TU-K, in partnership with the KCB Foundation, is nurturing young entrepreneurs running small and middle-sized businesses (SMEs) in Nairobi and its environs. The partnership is anchored in the KCB Foundation’s Young Africa Works – Kenya (YAW-K) project, which is funded by the Mastercard Foundation. Under the partnership, the University plays a key role in providing training and personalised mentorship to 620 SMEs in Nairobi (Eastleigh), Kiambu, Ngara, and Githunguri, with an allocation of 155 entrepreneurs per region. The project specifically targets young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 28 years, with 80% of the beneficiaries expected to be women.
Since its launch in February this year, the collaboration has marked key milestones. One of these is the internal capacity building of 12 lecturers from the School of Business and Management Studies, who served as trainers and mentors for the project beneficiaries. The lecturers, now ILO-certified trainers, were trained using the ILO-SIYB (Start and Improve Your Business) curriculum, a globally recognised framework that equips aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to build sustainable enterprises.
This training has been an eye-opener for the University, igniting a commitment to review the entrepreneurship curriculum so that it aligns with the practical needs of young entrepreneurs. Prof. Levi Mbugua, the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Transfer, during one of the mentorship sessions held in Eastleigh, explained that the realities of the challenges faced by SMEs cannot be solved theoretically, hence the need to review the curriculum.
“Once our lecturers underwent the ILO-SRYB, it opened up their minds to the realities on the ground, it’s not theoretical.” “And so we agreed with the Entrepreneurship Department that they are going to review their curriculum to be more responsive to the practical and entrepreneurial needs of start-ups.”
Prof. Mbugua also noted that the University has already surpassed its targets, another key milestone. “Initially, the programme targeted 620 SMEs across Nairobi, Eastleigh, Ngara, Kiambu, and Githunguri. But with the dedication of our trainers and mentors, we surpassed that and trained over 800 SMEs.” “Out of these, select groups of 37 top-performing SMEs from each region proceeded to intensive individual mentorship sessions.”
Business sustainability is often a challenge in Kenya, with statistics showing that many small businesses fail before their second anniversary. Through the ILO-SIYB framework of training coupled with mentorship, the entrepreneurs are being upskilled with critical knowledge and tools in record keeping, financial management, savings, and loans, amongst other areas, ensuring they are well-prepared to run thriving businesses.
“The ultimate goal is to help the youth expand their businesses to a level where they can not only sustain themselves but also employ at least two or more people,” Prof. Mbugua emphasized. Once the training and mentorship are concluded, it is envisioned that beneficiaries will be able to apply for financing to upscale their businesses, and not just small loans, but loans ranging from Sh.500,000 and above.
The partnership has been pivotal in strengthening academia–industry linkages, positioning the University to be more than just a centre of academic learning, but also a driver of entrepreneurship and job creation.
