Launch of the Kenya Opportunity Index Report 2026

MSMEs Development Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni  challenged stakeholders to start with a fundamental question: “Where is the market for MSMEs?” underscoring that market access is as critical as capital when it comes to supporting MSMEs. 

Speaking during the official launch of  the Opportunity Index report 2026, a significant step toward strengthening Kenya’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem the PS emphasized that entrepreneurship is not only about financing. At its core, it begins with an idea that drives business, identifies opportunity, and, most importantly, understands the market. 

PS Mang’eni highlighted that formalizing MSMEs should not be viewed merely as a compliance requirement, but as a powerful opportunity to map businesses, understand their nature, scale, and location, and ultimately design policies and support systems that respond to their real needs.

Investing in early entrepreneurial thinking should be integrated into the education curriculum to nurture the next generation of innovators and job creators.

Drawing lessons from South Korea, which once shared a similar development trajectory with Kenya, the PS pointed out how the country accelerated its growth by expanding the number of enterprises and strategically leveraging technology to drive innovation and competitiveness.

The launch of the Opportunity Index marks an important milestone in advancing the Government’s agenda to empower MSMEs, expand market opportunities, and strengthen Kenya’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for inclusive economic growth.