The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) to support business growth in Kakamega.

The University is committed to actively participate in the training, capacity building of businessmen and to conduct research on best practices of doing business in Kakamega.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Solomon Shibairo said that through this partnership, the University and KNCCI will actively participate in advocating for better laws that target businessmen in the county.

For example, Professor Shibairo said he took note of a law being drafted in the county assembly aimed at enticing investors.

“I have asked Professor Charles Mutai to follow up on this law which is being drafted so that the university can participate,” he said during a breakfast in Kakamega.

The Vice Chancellor said the two institutions would work to create an enabling environment for young people to engage in businesses by asking national and county governments to minimize the requirements needed to start a business, as they discourage young people. youth.

“We can do something to change Kakamega, so that young people are attracted to business. Besides taxes, there are so many other hurdles that discourage investors,” he noted.

Lack of partnerships in Kakamega businesses is among the issues that stakeholders have noted as hampering business growth as they urge businessmen to embrace the money market to earn more money.

“We also want governors to support businesses by ensuring they upgrade roads, improve infrastructure, including ensuring people are connected to electricity and supporting the clean energy shift,” said the vice-chancellor.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research and Innovation, Professor Charles Mutai, also responsible for linkages, said he was ready to work with the business community since the university management has allocated enough funds to support ties with different businessmen.

In addition, the university has realized the need to train women, youth and other vulnerable people on how to do business, bid and apply for tenders.

One of the directors of KNCCI Kakamega, Jael Omumami, urged the University to engage small entrepreneurs locally who lack skills in business presentation, branding and do not know how to successfully apply for tenders.

“Local merchants are asking for opportunities to do business with the university and other large organizations in Kakamega, but they lack the knowledge on how to go about it,” she revealed.

The Dean School of Business and Economics at Robert Egesa University noted that in collaboration with KNCCI, the university launched the KNCCI Junior Club to equip learners with business skills.

He noted that the business school is ready to collaborate and undertake research with KNCCI, especially on small micro-enterprises (SMEs).

“We have a fully-fledged section within the business administration department that deals with business development,” he pointed out.

The University management has promised to provide opportunities for the business community, especially vulnerable groups, to do business with it through the 30% procurement rule.

The business people have also promised to provide internship opportunities for university students when they seek industrial attachment opportunities.

The captain of the golf club who is also a businessman in Kakamega, Pape Sembi asked the university to interact more with the business community to provide them with a platform to support the students of the institutions.

KNCCI Kakamega Branch President, Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), Wycliffe Kibisu and Managing Director Nickel Tari said they will continue to advocate for a conducive business environment to welcome the partnership with the MMUST.

By Moses Wekesa