Equity Bank moves to link Narok SMEs to global markets

BY RUTH NGANGA

Equity Bank officials held talks with Narok County leaders and local entrepreneurs on September 17, 2026, on ways to move small and medium-sized businesses beyond raw production and into higher-value activities that can reach international markets.

Equity Bank Managing Director Moses Nyabanda said Narok, once dependent mainly on the Maasai Mara National Reserve and rain-fed wheat farming, is growing into a strong commercial centre.

He said prioritising smart agriculture and better market linkages would help local enterprises unlock their full potential.

“We are seeing farmers adopting smart agriculture, moving away from how our forefathers farmed. But we do not just want to increase yield but also connect you to the markets that buy processed leather for designer bags, rather than selling raw hides for a fraction of the price,” said Mr Nyabanda.

To reduce risks in farming, which is still heavily affected by weather, Mr Nyabanda said the bank would time loan repayments to match local planting seasons.

He promised farmers that agricultural loans would be processed within two weeks to ensure they do not miss the planting period.

Asset acquisition support

To sustain the progress and help businesses increase exports, Equity Bank Kenya’s Head of Retail and Branch Business Carol Rutto said the bank is offering support for asset acquisition and loans that do not require collateral.

Okipira Ole Tutai, a long-time farmer who started his agribusiness in 1985, recalled that government-backed agricultural lenders demanded title deeds as security.

He said this was almost impossible for young farmers because most land was communally owned.

“From 1985 to 1994, I had never received a loan anywhere. With state financiers, you had to have a title deed, which we didn’t have as young men. There was simply no way to access credit,” Mr Tutai said.

Later, flexible loans based on a farmer’s income helped people like him grow from small-scale farming into bigger businesses. They were able to acquire tractors and commercial properties.

The same flexible lending approach has also helped shield small and medium-sized businesses from major economic shocks.

Narok County Executive Committee Member for Finance David Ole Muntet urged financial institutions to adopt better approaches to dealing with defaulters rather than immediately auctioning their properties.