The Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSME Development, Susan Mang’eni, has urged MSMEs to adopt technology to propel themselves towards global competitiveness, while also ensuring that products and services remain tailored to local markets and consumer needs.
She spoke during a fireside chat at the inaugural Women in STEM Africa Summit, held in Nairobi and organised by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA).
PS Susan Mang’eni highlighted the Kenyan Government’s commitment to digital transformation, citing the ongoing digitisation of government services and the Digital Superhighway project that aims to deploy 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure, ensuring last-mile connectivity and universal access to digital services across every ward nationwide.
Renowned technology entrepreneur James Ayugi urged MSME founders to adopt a global mindset from the outset, emphasising the importance of a scalable model from the design stage.
“Building a business capable of scaling internationally requires forging partnerships that help navigate national policies, regulatory environments, and market dynamics,” he noted.
She further urged MSMEs to formalise their operations, a crucial move for accessing growth opportunities such as funding, intellectual property protection, and new markets. She also highlighted legislative efforts to strengthen Kenya’s innovation ecosystem, noting the proposed Start-Up Bill currently before the National Senate.
“The Bill seeks to enhance the start-up landscape through the creation of a multisectoral agency that will act as a one-stop shop for MSMEs, supporting entrepreneurs from ideation to market entry,” she explained.
PS Mang’eni reminded entrepreneurs interested in public procurement that all government procurement processes will be transitioned to the e-Government Procurement portal, accessible at www.egpkenya.go.ke.
“This platform will democratise access to government tenders, ensuring transparency and opening new opportunities for MSMEs. I urge all interested Kenyans to register their enterprises on the portal,” she added.
