Kenya’s micro, small and medium enterprises have renewed their call for stronger MSME investment collaboration to unlock the next phase of business growth. Speaking at the highly successful Business Ecosystems Summit (BES) 2025 in Kisumu, MSME owners, corporates, and sector leaders urged investors and development partners to scale up capital deployment to match the ambition and economic weight of Kenya’s 7.4 million MSMEs.
Convening the Summit, Jeanette Oromo, CEO of The IMC People, challenged stakeholders to ensure commitments made during BES2025 translate into real action and sustained MSME investment collaboration across value chains.
“The momentum we are witnessing must translate into tangible investments and partnerships. Access to financing remains the biggest barrier for MSMEs, yet they are the backbone of our economy,” said Oromo. “With innovative financing models, patient capital, and inclusive value chains, the impact of MSME investment collaboration is limitless.”
Why MSME Investment Collaboration Matters Now
The Summit organized by The IMC People in partnership with the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) and the Kisumu County Government showcased the region’s readiness to attract investors and deepen MSME investment collaboration across multiple key sectors.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o highlighted the county’s growing reputation as a strategic business hub, noting the return of major international events.
“Hosting the inaugural Summit in 2023, followed by global conferences including Afreximbank’s in 2024, shows that Kisumu is open, competitive, and ready for business,” he said.
Ambassador Nasra Salim Mohamed Al Hashmi of Oman emphasized the importance of cross-regional partnership, reiterating that government and private actors must work together to strengthen MSME investment collaboration especially for women, youth and emerging innovators.
“Oman and Kenya have a long history. Our shared vision is to support enterprise growth across regions. Events like BES drive the relationships that shape the future of trade,” she said.
Record-Breaking Engagement at BES2025
Building on the success of the 2023 Summit, which attracted 9,000 attendees, BES2025 surpassed expectations with more than 10,000 visitors on day one alone. The Summit featured high-level plenaries, sector panels, investment matchmaking, and a vibrant marketplace with over 300 exhibitors, most of them innovative MSMEs.
Oromo said the goal going forward is to ensure MSME investment collaboration continues throughout the year, not only during the Summit.
“We must build permanent bridges between MSMEs and the resources they need to scale. No entrepreneur should struggle in isolation when solutions exist within reach,” she said.
Key Supporters Behind BES2025
The Summit was supported by key partners including Arise IIP Kenya, AAR Insurance, KenInvest, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Kisumu Chapter, Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), and Med Aditus further strengthening the ecosystem driving MSME investment collaboration in Kenya.
