International Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Day: four women, four businesses, and the power of entrepreneurship in Kenya

Through the Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Families in Nairobi and Kiambu Project, funded by Fondazione Cariplo, AVSI is helping young entrepreneurs in Kenya develop the skills, confidence and resources they need to grow sustainable businesses.

Countries Kenya

Sectors

Livelihood, economic strengthening, vocational training and job creation

Date 27.06.2026

"Owning my own beauty salon was always my dream."

For 20-year-old Mourine Patience Nyawira, that dream became reality after years of working as an employee in a salon, earning just enough to get by. Thanks to entrepreneurship training and a small business grant, she was able to purchase equipment and open Nova Beauty Salon together with her business partner. Today, she is building her own future through a business she proudly calls her own.

For Jacinta Nzilani Ndungwa, every day once began on the streets of Nairobi, selling shoes displayed on a mat laid on the ground. After receiving business training and support to expand her capital, she diversified her products to include bags and footwear. Her daily profits have tripled, allowing her to look ahead with greater confidence and stability.

Running a grocery shop was proving difficult for Zaweria Wanjiku Kariuki. Poor stock management and losses from perishable products made it hard to earn enough to support her family. Through the project, she strengthened her business skills, learning practical techniques in customer care, stock management and financial planning. Today, her shop serves around 60 customers every day and provides a more reliable source of income.

Regina Mwihaki used to walk through her neighbourhood selling eggs from place to place. With training and support to purchase a trolley, an umbrella and additional stock, she transformed her mobile activity into a more organized business. The increased income now allows her to save regularly and plan for future expansion.

Their stories are different, but they share one important lesson: access to finance alone is not enough. Lasting businesses grow when entrepreneurs have the knowledge, confidence and support to make informed decisions and adapt to changing circumstances.

MSMEs: the backbone of Kenya's economy

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the engine of Kenya's economy. They provide livelihoods for millions of people, create employment opportunities and offer an important pathway into the labour market, particularly for young people and women.

Yet many aspiring entrepreneurs face significant barriers. Limited access to affordable finance, inadequate business skills, restricted market opportunities and fierce competition make it difficult for new businesses to survive. For young women, these challenges are often compounded by social expectations, caregiving responsibilities and unequal access to economic opportunities.

Strengthening MSMEs therefore means strengthening communities, creating jobs and enabling families to build more secure and resilient livelihoods.

Supporting young entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods

To help address these challenges, AVSI is implementing the Strengthening the Resilience of Vulnerable Families in Nairobi and Kiambu Project, funded by Fondazione Cariplo.

The initiative supports around 400 micro and small businesses, with a particular focus on young entrepreneurs and women, through an integrated approach that combines entrepreneurship training, financial literacy, mentorship, coaching and targeted business grants.

Rather than focusing solely on access to capital, the project equips participants with practical business skills, including budgeting, pricing, profit and loss management, customer relations, savings and long-term business planning. Through continuous mentoring and peer support, entrepreneurs strengthen their ability to grow their businesses and respond to economic challenges, creating more stable sources of income for themselves and their families.

Investing in people behind small businesses

Every year, on 27 June, the world marks the International Day for Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME Day), recognising the essential contribution these businesses make to employment, economic growth and sustainable development.

Behind every small enterprise is a person working to create opportunities for themselves, their family and their community. Whether it is a beauty salon, a grocery shop, a shoe business or a mobile food venture, small businesses can become powerful drivers of inclusion and resilience when entrepreneurs receive the right support.

The experiences of Mourine, Jacinta, Zaweria and Regina show that investing in young entrepreneurs is not only about supporting individual businesses. It is about enabling people to build dignified livelihoods, strengthen local economies and contribute to more resilient communities.