Lodwar, 12th March 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

A joint team from the County, and the State Department of Co-operatives Micro ,Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) paid a courtesy call call to the Office of the Turkana County Commissioner, and that of County Government ahead of Connect Turkana Edition.

The engagement , scheduled to take place at Ekalees Cultural Centre on Friday, aims to bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss opportunities, challenges and support mechanisms for micro, small and medium enterprises in Turkana County.

The delegation led by Rose Mwaura, Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSMEs, said that engagement forms part of a nationwide initiative by the ministry to interact with entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.

“The State Department has been moving across counties to directly engage with MSMEs, listen to their experiences and identify the challenges they face,” said Mwaura. “Our objective is to understand how we can support them to grow their businesses while also creating awareness about the various products and services offered by the department.”

She noted that the Turkana engagement would provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to dialogue with government officials and development partners on strategies that can unlock the potential of small businesses.

The County Commissioner Julius Kavita welcomed the delegation and described the visit as a significant for the county

“Turkana is a vast county and home to a diverse population of 25 nationalities in Kakuma Refugee camp” he said. “Many of these communities are actively involved in trade, with others coming from neighboring regions”.

Kavita urged the State Department to consider strengthening support for micro-business, particularly hawkers and groups operating in urban centres.

“Supporting these micro- businesses will make our towns more vibrant and stimulate local economic growth,” he added.

The County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Gender and Tourism, James Longole Wangiros, said the county government continues to prioritize the development of small businesses as a key driver of economic empowerment.

“Currently, Turkana has over 7,000 licensed MSMEs across the county,” Wangiros said. “Through the Department of Trade, we have established Biashara Fund and Youth Fund to support entrepreneurs. We are also implementing programs under the Kalobeyei–Kakuma Integrated Socio‑Economic Development Programme to support MSMEs within refugee and host communities.”

County Chief Officer for Trade, Pauline Tangarae, welcomed the partnership between the national and county governments, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in supporting entrepreneurs.

“We appreciate this collaboration and reaffirm the county’s commitment to working closely with the national government to strengthen MSMEs,” Tangarae said. “Such engagements provide valuable platforms to align our programs and ensure that traders receive the support they need.”

Director of Trade, Winnie Loposh highlighted several economic value chains within Turkana that remain largely untapped.

“Turkana has immense potential in sectors such as fisheries from Lake Turkana, agriculture, and hides and skins,” she said. “However, many of our traders require capacity building to equip them with the necessary skills to effectively manage their businesses and connect them to reliable markets.”

The upcoming dialogue at Ekalees Cultural Centre is expected to bring together Stakeholders including,Financial institutions, development partners and government officials to explore practical solutions for enhancing the growth has and sustainability of MSMEs in Turkana County.

The “Connect Turkana Edition” initiative forms part of the national government’s broader strategy to strengthen the MSME sector, which plays a critical role in job creation and economic development across Kenya.

MSMEs Connect Turkana Edition Team pays visits to county leadership ahead of Ekalees Centre engagement

Lodwar, 12th March 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

A joint team from the County, and the State Department of Co-operatives Micro ,Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) paid a courtesy call call to the Office of the Turkana County Commissioner, and that of County Government ahead of Connect Turkana Edition.

The engagement , scheduled to take place at Ekalees Cultural Centre on Friday, aims to bring together stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss opportunities, challenges and support mechanisms for micro, small and medium enterprises in Turkana County.

The delegation led by Rose Mwaura, Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSMEs, said that engagement forms part of a nationwide initiative by the ministry to interact with entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.

“The State Department has been moving across counties to directly engage with MSMEs, listen to their experiences and identify the challenges they face,” said Mwaura. “Our objective is to understand how we can support them to grow their businesses while also creating awareness about the various products and services offered by the department.”

She noted that the Turkana engagement would provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to dialogue with government officials and development partners on strategies that can unlock the potential of small businesses.

The County Commissioner Julius Kavita welcomed the delegation and described the visit as a significant for the county

“Turkana is a vast county and home to a diverse population of 25 nationalities in Kakuma Refugee camp” he said. “Many of these communities are actively involved in trade, with others coming from neighboring regions”.

Kavita urged the State Department to consider strengthening support for micro-business, particularly hawkers and groups operating in urban centres.

“Supporting these micro- businesses will make our towns more vibrant and stimulate local economic growth,” he added.

The County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Gender and Tourism, James Longole Wangiros, said the county government continues to prioritize the development of small businesses as a key driver of economic empowerment.

“Currently, Turkana has over 7,000 licensed MSMEs across the county,” Wangiros said. “Through the Department of Trade, we have established Biashara Fund and Youth Fund to support entrepreneurs. We are also implementing programs under the Kalobeyei–Kakuma Integrated Socio‑Economic Development Programme to support MSMEs within refugee and host communities.”

County Chief Officer for Trade, Pauline Tangarae, welcomed the partnership between the national and county governments, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in supporting entrepreneurs.

“We appreciate this collaboration and reaffirm the county’s commitment to working closely with the national government to strengthen MSMEs,” Tangarae said. “Such engagements provide valuable platforms to align our programs and ensure that traders receive the support they need.”

Director of Trade, Winnie Loposh highlighted several economic value chains within Turkana that remain largely untapped.

“Turkana has immense potential in sectors such as fisheries from Lake Turkana, agriculture, and hides and skins,” she said. “However, many of our traders require capacity building to equip them with the necessary skills to effectively manage their businesses and connect them to reliable markets.”

The upcoming dialogue at Ekalees Cultural Centre is expected to bring together Stakeholders including,Financial institutions, development partners and government officials to explore practical solutions for enhancing the growth has and sustainability of MSMEs in Turkana County.

The “Connect Turkana Edition” initiative forms part of the national government’s broader strategy to strengthen the MSME sector, which plays a critical role in job creation and economic development across Kenya.