Eldoret hosts entrepreneurship forum to boost women, youth-led businesses

The event, dubbed the Biashara Pawa Dialogue Series, brought together grassroots entrepreneurs operating in sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, technology, green enterprise and water, sanitation and hygiene.

Participants discussed challenges facing small businesses, including limited access to markets, inadequate financial literacy, regulatory compliance hurdles and customer retention.

Speaking during the forum at EldoHub, founder and Executive Director Chepkemoi Magdaline said collaboration between innovation hubs, government and development partners is critical in expanding support for entrepreneurs outside major urban centres.

“We hope to encourage collaboration and innovation through the partnerships we have built with SNV, the government, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said.

The dialogue attracted representatives from Uasin Gishu County Government, the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations, and Responsible Business Consulting.

SNV’s Nduta Ndirangu said mentorship remains a key but often overlooked component in enterprise growth, noting that entrepreneurs benefit from strategic guidance even when mentors do not directly solve business challenges.

“A mentor may not solve every challenge but can guide entrepreneurs to think critically and make better decisions,” she said.

The forum also featured sector-based breakout sessions where entrepreneurs engaged in peer learning on business development topics, including market validation and financial management.

Green enterprises under the IYBA-SEED Regional Expansion programme were also recognised during the event for advancing sustainable and circular economy business models.

Organisers said 115 local entrepreneurs were connected to mentors and institutional support networks through the initiative, reinforcing Eldoret’s growing role as an emerging hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Kenya.