Maasai Market opens at City Mall Nakumat Nyali in Mombasa.

The management of the City Mall Nakumat Nyali in Mombasa in collaboration with the leadership of the MSE Sector has agreed to promote women entrepreneurs by establishing a Maasai market at City Mall Nakumat Nyali in Mombasa. The market will provide an opportunity to the MSEs to sale and showcase their products and services to the various clienteles who visit the Mall including the tourists. The market provides an opportunity for 100 small traders to participate every Wednesday and Thursday we take this opportunity to thank the management of the City Mall Nyali For according this Economic opportunity to our Small Business Owners majority of whom are women.

South Africa Government Delegation Visits the MSE Sector in Kenya.

Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry from South Africa are in the country to learn on how Kenya is handling the informal economic sector with special emphasis on the Micro and Small Industries (Jua Kali Sector). South Africa has identified Kenya as one of the strategic countries to learn from due to the fact that it is confronted by almost similar economic challenges as south Africa. The delegation headed by Mr. Stephen Umlaw (Dir. EDU) visited the Ministry of Trade in Kenya on the 9th July 2012 and met several officials including the Export Promotion Council. They also visited the metal fabrication sub- sector of the Jua Kali sector and are scheduled to visit other MSE Clusters in Nairobi including the Wood Work and Carpentry along Shauri Moyo and Ngong Road. The delegation will meet officials from the ministries of Industrialization and Labour in the course of the week. The South African delegation’s visit is coordinated by Mr. Sisanda Mtwizi, Councilor (Economic) from the South Africa High Commission and Mr. Richard Muteti from the MSE Sector in Kenya.

RWANDA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2012

the Private Sector Federation-Rwanda in conjunction with the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda is organizing for the 15th time the Annual Rwanda International Trade Fair 2012 due to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 25th July to 08th August 2012. The fair will attract over 500 exhibitors from various countries especially from EAC region , providing a unique sales opportunity and networking forum for the business community/Institutions that will be participating at this international event. For space booking and registration kindly contact :- Ephrem KARANGWA : Head Trade Fairs & Investments: Private Sector Federation: Cell +250 788307330: ephremk@psf.org.rw

The President Visits Export Sector MSEs at the KICC

The MSE Sector hosted the President of Kenya H.E Hon Mwai Kibaki, the Ministers of Trade, Finance and other Key Stakeholders at an MSE Stand during the National Exporters Forum yesterday on the 29th June 2012 at the KICC The President said that the Government will establish the Export Development Fund and start an Endowment Fund to support EPCs activities. He called for the speedy establishment of the SME Parks and appreciated the good work of the SME Exporters in Jobs and wealth creation in Kenya. The president was taken round the MSE Hand Made Products stand by Mr. Richard Muteti and was later presented with the SME Handbook which was produced to empower the small business owners in Kenya with timely and relevant information relevant to their growth. Among the MSE Exhibitors was Madam Zohra Baraka who exports various hand made products to various countries in Europe. She has received an order of 1 million shillings to supply bangles during the London Marathon. Regional MSE representatives from across the country joined the More than 400 Exporters during the event while the Vise Chairman of KEPSA Mr. Vimal Shah gave a brief remark on behalf of the Private Sector in Kenya.

UNDP and the RBA take valuable MSE programmes to the Western Region of Kenya.

The UNDP conducts leadership and governance Training for MSE Sector leaders based at the Western region of Kenya where more than 65 Associations were represented by more than 250 participants at the Golf hotel. RBA concludes a hearing loss clinic in western region where more than 1500 artisans are attended to. Among the guests who spoke during the event were: C.E.O of RBA Mr. E. Odundo , K.I E Regional Manager Mr Bett , the MSE Western Region Sector Chairman, Mr. Charles Omutanyi , the Kakamega County Jua Kali Associations Chairman ,Mr. Richard Kondo and the Sector CEO Mr. Richard Muteti. The C.E.O of RBA Mr. Odundo said that the artisans are subjected to a lot of noise and other activities that affect their hearing and was concerned that many artisans are getting out of the Jua kali sector because of hearing problems and that the trend would affect the growth of the industry . He promised to take the hearing conservation programme to the rest of the country. We recognize the efforts of the following MSE leaders from the Western Region who made the two programmes a major success: led by the Chairman Mr. Charles Omutanyi, Mr. Richard Kondo, the Organizing Secretary Mr. Caleb Isindu. The secretary Ms. Pauline Avukusi, Mrs. Elizabeth , Mr. Eliud Wawire and the Executive Officer Mr. Caleb Isindu who is also the Youth Director, KNCCI Kakamega County

operation Ear Drop Hearing Conservation Clinic Goes to Kakamega County Jua Kali MSE Associations

Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) takes operation Ear Drop Hearing Conservation Clinic to Kakamega County Jua Kali MSE Associations from 11th to 15th June 2012. RBA has identified a hearing conservation programme as an initiative that will accord retirees in the Jua Kali Sector a reasonable and sustainable lifestyle after retirement. Following the successful piloting of the RBA/OED Hearing Conservation Programme that targeted jua kali artisans in Kamukunji Jua Kali association in Nairobi (may 2010),Kibuye jua kali association in kisumu(march 2010) and Shimanzi Jua Kali Association in Mombasa (may 2011), it is the time for a fourth pilot clinic in Kakamega Jua Kali Associations in Kakamega County. In collaboration with Operation Ear Drop (Kenya) the Authority will host a hearing conservation clinic for members of the Jua Kali associations in Kakamega County from 11th to 15 June 2012. He programme is expected to achieve the following objectives: • To create awareness among the Jua Kali Artisans on the hazards of excessive noise exposure • To educate the workers on basic ear hygiene • To conduct hearing assessments on all workers exposed to hazardous noise • To provide hearing protective devices i.e earplugs/earmuffs to the workers • To educate the artisans on the need and means of saving for retirement. We expect the programme to roll out to the rest of the Jua Kali Artisans across the country and wish to thank the Leadership of the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) for coming up with this very noble idea. We thank the Chairman of the Kakamega County Jua Kali Associations Mr. Charles Omutanyi Makokha and his team for providing the identification and logistical support for the programme. Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations (KNFJKA)

The "SME HANDBOOK GOES ONLINE"

The SME Handbook is the first ever comprehensive Handbook in Kenya with Information, services and products targeting to empower small business owners. You can now access the book online. The Handbook was launched on 14th September, 2011 at the Laico Regency by then Minister for Trade, Hon. Chirau Ali Mwakwere. Due to the overwhelming demands for copies, it is now available online. To buy, click on the link below: http://www.ebookstore.co.ke/product/the-sme-handbook/ The Information in the handbook has been packaged into four main categories as follows: 1. Information on the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector by experts and stakeholders This section has articles written by people who work or teach about the sector and understand it on its dynamics and what drives it. 2. Information on business skills This section has quick-read articles on the ABCs of running a business e.g writing a business plan, registering a business, investing your money, qualifying for a business loan, protecting your innovations and inventions, finding a market for your products e.t.c 3. Information on Government Services Available to small businesses in Kenya, Public agencies and other statutory bodies) including trade attaches in various missions abroad, and local contacts of district offices for various Ministries i.e. Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industrialization, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Fisheries, and Ministry of Planning and National Development 4. Information on Business Member Organizations (BMO’S) that support the growth and development of small businesses in Kenya and donor and development partners targeting small business owners. The Handbook has profiled BMOs from various parts of the country that support small businesses. The Handbook also has a catalogue section where you can get contact details of all the banks, micro-finance institutions, insurance companies and agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations dealing with small business owners. http://www.ebookstore.co.ke/product/the-sme-handbook/ Kind Regards Lydiah Njoroge Programmes Director Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa http://www.ebookstore.co.ke/product/the-sme-handbook/