Service Partners

The Kenya Revenue Authority plays a multifaceted role in supporting MSEs by not only ensuring tax compliance but also by providing educational resources, simplifying processes, and advocating for policies that facilitate the growth and sustainability of MSEs. This collaborative effort contributes significantly to the development of a vibrant and compliant MSE sector, fostering economic growth and prosperity in Kenya.

Roles
a.    Tax education and awareness
b.    Simplified tax procedures for MSEs.
c.    Compliance support.
d.    Tailored tax incentives e.g. amnesties.

The Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) plays a crucial role in supporting Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by providing accreditation services. Accreditation is the formal recognition that a conformity assessment body (CAB), such as a testing laboratory or certification body, meets specific standards of competence and impartiality.

Roles
a.    Quality Assurance
b.    Increased market access
c.    Ensures compliance with standards
d.    Risk mitigation
e.    Increases MSE competitive advantage.
f.    Capacity building
g.    Increase MSEs' eligibility for funding and financial support.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) plays a crucial role in supporting Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by providing standards and quality assurance services. As the national standards body for Kenya, KEBS is responsible for the development and implementation of standards across various sectors.

Roles
a.    Development and adoption of standards relevant to different industries, providing MSEs with guidelines for producing high-quality products and services
b.    Certification and compliance assessment- MSEs seek certification from KEBS to demonstrate that their products and services comply with national or international standards.
c.    Technical assistance and training- KEBS provides technical assistance to MSEs, offering guidance on implementing and maintaining quality management systems.
d.    Market access facilitation - Products and services that meet KEBS standards are more likely to gain acceptance in the marketplace, enabling MSEs to compete both locally and globally.
e.    Consumer protection – KEBS plays a critical role in protecting consumers from substandard and unsafe products by setting and enforcing quality standards.
f.    Innovation support - KEBS collaborates with MSEs to develop standards that keep pace with technological advancements.

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) plays a significant role in supporting business enterprises by facilitating the acquisition of technology through registration and regulation of patents, utility models, technovations, industrial designs and trade marks.
Roles

i.    Industrial property (IP) patents, industrial designs, utility models and trade marks - support
ii.    Innovation and creativity support
iii.    Helps business enterprises to leverage on the industrial property system to boost their productivity and competitiveness in the market - through protection of their IP rights  against infringement through granting and registration of patents, industrial designs, utility models and trade marks hence ensuring a fair and competitive business environment
iv.    Capacity building and training on IP

KIRDI's role for MSEs is centered around research, development, and innovation support. MSEs can benefit from the institute's expertise, facilities, and initiatives to enhance their competitiveness and contribute to the overall development of the industrial sector in Kenya.

Roles

1.  Research and development support
2. Technology transfer
3. Support in product and process innovation
4. Quality assurance and standards compliance
5. Training and capacity building
6. Incubation and prototyping services
7. Common manufacturing facilities.

NMC”s main role at the Biashara centre is to promote and facilitate industrialization through technology transfer.

Roles

1. Manufacture of high precision Industrial and Automotive parts with CNC machining
2. Foundry and casting of ferrous (steel and cast iron); and non-ferrous (aluminium and bronzes)
3. Metallurgical laboratory equipped with modern machines- mass spectrometer, carbon analyser, hardness tester and crack detection
4. General fabrication- cutting, bending and assembly process
5. Machinery and machine tools
6. Autodesk Engineering Design Software (Production & Design Manufacturing Collection; and Architecture Engineering &
7. Construction Collection
8. Training and skills transfer- CNC operations; Foundry operations; and Engineering Design Software
9. Technology transfer
10. Research and Product development support

Kenya Industrial Estates plays a crucial role in ensuring that MSEs and business people in Kenya have access to affordable industrial credit as a way of addressing the financing challenge faced by most businesses in the country.

Roles
a.    Financial support
b.    Business incubation for start ups
c.    Capacity building and training
d.    Business Advisory services and entrepreneurship development
e.    Collaboration and Networking

KenInvest is responsible for promoting and facilitating both local and foreign investment in Kenya.

Roles
    •    Sector specific Investment promotion
    •    Facilitation of investments, entry and establishment of businesses in Kenya through simplified administrative processes.
    •    Investor support
    •    Market intelligence
    •    Networking and partnerships
    •    Policy advocacy

KDC role is to provide long-term financing and other financial, investment and business advisory services.

Roles
    •    Debt financing
    •    Equity financing
    •    Financial advisory services

SEZA main role is to regulate and administer approved activities within the special economic zones by:

    •    Provision of information and advice on aspects pertaining to SEZ program.
    •    Offering assistance in acquiring all documentation required for operation as an SEZ company.
    •    Issuance of SEZ licenses.

ACA main role is to offer advisory services on counterfeits. Additionally
    •    Enlighten and inform the public on matters relating to counterfeiting;
    •    Combat counterfeiting, trade and other dealings in counterfeit goods;
    •    Devise and promote training programs to combat counterfeiting;
    •    Co-ordinate with national, regional or international organizations involved in combating counterfeiting;
    •    Perform any other duty that may directly or indirectly contribute to the attainment of the foregoing.

KEPROBA’s main mandate is to implement export promotion and nation branding initiatives and policies to promote Kenya’s export of goods and services.

Roles
    •    Market Intelligence research and survey
    •    International Market Development and Promotion
    •    International Market Development and Promotion
    •    Enterprise and Product Development
    •    Advocacy and Trade Policy Facilitation
    •    Nation Branding

EPZA main role is to regulate and administer approved activities within the export processing zones by:

Roles
    •    Provision of information and advice on aspects pertaining to EPZ program.
    •    Offering assistance in acquiring all documentation required for operation as an EPZ company.
    •    Issuance of EPZ licenses.

Roles
    •    Regulation of scrap metal business

i. Provision of an organized market with access to buyers provided by a single platform where buyers and sellers meet.
ii. Access to proper storage and warehousing especially for primary producers and small-scale farmers during bumper harvest.
iii. Ensure transparency and objective quality measurements and grading facilities for better prices.
iv. Linkage to International buyers through improved viability and traceability in the trading system.
v. Stabilize price and quality thus guarantee better margin for small scale farmers (warehouse receipt).
vi. To eliminate brokerage/exploitation and promote transparency in pricing.
vii. Assist farmers in getting real time prices.
viii. Boost agricultural productivity, enhance market access and value addition.
ix. Improve business environment, access affordable financing for SMES

i).Undertake research and analysis required to inform negotiating proposals and the positions the country should take;
ii). Analyze all trade documents, notifications, coming from WTO, UNCTAD, epas, AGOA, EAC, COMESA, CFTA and other trade organizations and advise the business community as necessary;
iii). Liaise with mandated national bodies for preparation of notifications which Kenya will notify to other countries;
iv). Analyze received notifications from other countries and advise the Government as appropriate;
v). Advise government on possible options to pursue on addressing emerging trade disputes;
vi). Advise Government and stakeholders on how to engage WTO, UNCTAD and ITC on implementation of trade agreements, preparation of smes to be export-ready as well as policy analysis and research in order to grow the country`s external trade;
vii). Organize in consultation with the ministry responsible for trade matters and county governments, organize outreach programmes intended to sensitize the business community on the implications of concluded trade agreements and greater involvement of private sector on the way forward

i). Domesticate the WTO Agreements on Anti- Dumping, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and Safeguards
ii). Facilitating the protection of unfair import Trade practices which cause material injury or retardation to Kenya's domestic industry

i). Reducing post-harvest losses
ii). Enhance access to credit through the use Warehouse Receipt as collateral
iii). Promote aggregation especially among smallholders a
iv). Promote agro processing

YEDF is mandated to provide financial and business development support services to youth owned enterprises by offering:
i.    Business loans
ii.    Market support and linkages
iii.    Enterprise development and linkages
iv.    Youth employment schemes abroad
v.    Commercial infrastructure

WEF is mandated to provide financial and business development support services to women owned enterprises by offering:

i.    Subsidized credit to Kenyan women entrepreneurs for enterprise development.
ii.    Capacity building of women entrepreneurs and their organizations.
iii.    Attracting and facilitating investment in micro, small and medium enterprises-oriented infrastructure such as business markets or business incubators that will be beneficial to women enterprises.
iv.    Supporting women-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises to develop linkages with large enterprises.
v.    Facilitating marketing of products and services of women enterprises in both domestic and international market

i.    KNTC role is to facilitate sub-contracting/linkages