Principal Secretary for Cooperatives Susan Mang’eni has called on alumni associations to leverage their influence, experience, and networks to support the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking at the inaugural Daystar University Alumni Association Professional and Business Symposium held at Daystar’s Town Campus, Mang’eni emphasised the untapped potential of alumni networks in catalysing inclusive and sustainable development.
“Whether through mentorship, cooperative formation, seed
capital investment, or policy advocacy, you can be the bridge between academic
knowledge and enterprise impact,” she told the alumni in attendance.
She challenged alumni to adopt a cooperative mindset, one focused on community upliftment, shared prosperity, and resilience, noting that such a mindset was vital in addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
“In an era of disruption, it is through cooperative models and empowered MSMEs that we will tackle youth unemployment, regional inequality, and economic vulnerability,” she added.
Mang’eni urged alumni associations to become incubators of innovation and collaborative development, highlighting ideas such as alumni-backed start-up accelerators, revolving funds, and partnerships with SACCOs and producer cooperatives.
“This symposium is the perfect platform to incubate such ideas — from start-up accelerators, alumni-backed revolving funds, to partnerships with SACCOs and producer cooperatives across Kenya,” she noted.
The PS underlined the critical role MSMEs play in Kenya’s economy, noting they employ over 15 million Kenyans, contribute nearly 40 per cent to the national GDP, and are key drivers of innovation and job creation.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to providing an enabling policy and financial environment for MSMEs and cooperatives to flourish, including access to affordable credit, market linkages, and capacity building.
“The government is keen to create an enabling environment where MSMEs and cooperatives thrive as key engines of inclusive and sustainable development,” she said.
The event drew distinguished speakers and alumni, including Prof. Laban Ayiro, Vice Chancellor of Daystar University, Dr. Betty Gikonyo, co-founder of the Karen Hospital, Donald K. Smith, Daystar University founder, and Dr. Antony Mwaniki Mburu, COO of the Maa Trust.
The symposium explored how professional alumni can use their industry knowledge, capital, and networks to unlock the potential of grassroots enterprises, particularly those led by young people and women.
Kenya’s MSME sector comprises over 7.4 million businesses, most of which are informal. The government views cooperatives and collaborative business models as strategic pathways to formalising the sector, improving productivity, and strengthening national economic resilience.
