Kenya Launches First MSME Readiness Index at SalesFest Africa

Kenya today marked a major milestone in its entrepreneurship ecosystem with the launch of the country’s first MSME Opportunity Readiness Index (Fursa Index) during the SalesFest Africa.

The Chanuka Jipange Edition was held at the Trinity Auditorium, All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.

The index, developed through the Chanuka Jipange national engagement across all 47 counties, measures how ready Kenyan micro and small enterprises are to access real economic opportunities and participate in structured markets.

More than 10,000 MSMEs across the country contributed insights that informed the report.

Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Susan Auma Mang’eni, welcomed the findings and noted that the insights come at a critical moment as the government undertakes a review of the national MSME policy framework.

She raised key questions emerging from the discussion:

How can markets be structured for sectors like boda boda operators?

How can informal businesses such as hawkers be integrated into organized market systems?

The PS expressed interest in ensuring that the Fursa Index findings inform the ongoing MSME policy review, noting that better policy must respond to the real experiences of entrepreneurs.

The Chanuka Jipange Journey

During the opening remarks, Eunice Maina-Mburu, CEO of 20X Entrepreneur and founder of the Chanuka Jipange movement, shared the journey of travelling across all 47 counties engaging entrepreneurs on opportunities for enterprise growth.

She noted that one of the most striking discoveries from the national engagements was that Kenyan entrepreneurs are already working extremely hard, but many remain trapped in what the report describes as a “transitioning hustle economy” where effort is high but structured market access remains limited.

The Role of Structure in Economic Growth

Behavioral scientist and leadership coach Irene Njoroge emphasized that real economic transformation happens when systems remove friction for entrepreneurs.

Quoting a powerful insight shared during the session, she noted:

“The secret of change is not to push harder, it is to remove friction. Structure removes friction that keeps people stuck. When systems are structured people trust.

She also highlighted three mindsets that often hold entrepreneurs back from entering structured markets:

• Survival mindset
• Blame mindset
• Hustle mindset

Moving beyond these mindsets requires building systems that reward consistency, quality, and accountability.

Lessons from Structured Industries

Industry experts on the panel shared practical examples of how structured markets operate in successful sectors.

Clement Tulezi, CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, explained that the flower industry is one of the most structured agricultural sectors in Kenya.

He noted that:

• Flower farms plant, harvest and export every single day of the year
• The industry has investors at every stage of the supply chain
• Smallholder farmers can plug into the system because standards and processes are clear

He summarized the industry philosophy simply:

“A flower is not a product. A flower is a process.”

Opportunities to Structure Livestock Markets.

Livestock expert David Maina contrasted the flower industry with the livestock sector, which he described as largely disorganized despite its huge economic potential.

He emphasized the need to introduce grading systems and feeding hubs similar to the Galana Kulalu model, where livestock can be temporarily brought for feeding, weight improvement and standardized grading before entering markets.

Such structures, he argued, would unlock major opportunities for pastoralists and smallholder livestock farmers.

Housing and Technology as Market Enablers

Other speakers highlighted how policy and technology can create structured markets.

David Muiru, Managing Director of Glimco Limited, explained how the Affordable Housing Program is helping bring greater structure and professionalism to the real estate sector.

Meanwhile Jimmy Bett, Managing Partner at Dibon Co Ltd, emphasized that records, tracking and customer experience systems enabled by technology are essential for businesses seeking to move from hustle to structured markets.

Towards a First-World Opportunity System

The launch of the Fursa Index marks the beginning of what organizers described as a broader national conversation about building structured opportunity systems that allow Kenyan enterprises to scale, attract capital and compete globally.

The findings from the index are expected to inform future policy discussions and help guide efforts to transition Kenyan enterprises from effort-driven hustle to structured participation in real markets.