MSMEs PS Mang’eni rallies corporates to boost SME growth

By Muthoni Wainaina

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Susan Mang’eni, has called on corporate organisations to collaborate in supporting SMEs by addressing their most urgent needs: access to capital, markets, and technical expertise.

Speaking during the launch of Conecta Africa, a pan-African initiative aimed at strengthening early-stage entrepreneurial ecosystems, Mang’eni emphasized the importance of joint efforts in unlocking the potential of enterprises with viable products.

“To scale sustainably, SMEs need structured support through funding, market linkages, and skills development. Corporates must become partners in this journey,” she said.

Pan-African collaboration for inclusive growth

Conecta Africa is co-led by Bridge for Billions, with the support of key partners including the Coca-Cola Foundation, IDRC, Grundfos Foundation, and Strathmore University. The initiative spans Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, and aims to drive inclusive growth across the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape.

The launch event, held in Nairobi, brought together over 100 high-level stakeholders from government, development agencies, corporates, academia, and entrepreneurship support organisations. The gathering focused on co-creating strategies to enhance youth and women-led entrepreneurship, strengthen ecosystems, and expand access to finance.

Mang’eni also highlighted preparations for the next phase of the Hustler Fund, a flagship government programme. She noted that the upcoming phase will focus on scaling enterprises with strong credit histories, providing them with larger loans, targeted mentorship, sector-specific solutions, and direct connections to value chains and global markets.

“Our goal is to elevate entrepreneurs from micro to small, and from small to medium-sized, export-ready enterprises,” she stated. “We’re building a pathway for sustainable business growth.”

She further proposed a collaboration with Conecta Africa to create digital training content for Hustler Fund beneficiaries.

“Digital literacy and entrepreneurship education are critical for scaling businesses. By partnering to develop accessible, high-quality digital content, we can ensure entrepreneurs are equipped for success,” Mang’eni added.

With its broad network and innovation-driven approach, Conecta Africa is expected to play a transformative role in building resilient and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa.