Kenya has launched its first MSME Opportunity Readiness Index (Fursa Index) during the SalesFest Africa – Chanuka Jipange Edition held at the Trinity Auditorium of All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.
The index was developed through the Chanuka Jipange national engagement conducted across all 47 counties. It evaluates how prepared Kenyan micro and small enterprises are to access real economic opportunities and participate in structured markets. The report draws insights from more than 10,000 MSMEs across the country who contributed to the national consultation process.
Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Susan Auma Mang’eni welcomed the findings, saying they come at a crucial time when the government is reviewing the national MSME policy framework.
The PS raised key questions emerging from the discussions, including how markets can be structured for sectors such as boda boda operators and how informal businesses like hawkers can be integrated into organised market systems.
Mang’eni expressed interest in ensuring that the findings of the Fursa Index inform the ongoing MSME policy review, noting that effective policy must reflect the real experiences of entrepreneurs on the ground.
The Chanuka Jipange Journey
During the opening session, Eunice Maina-Mburu, CEO of 20X Entrepreneur and founder of the Chanuka Jipange movement, shared the experience of travelling across all 47 counties engaging entrepreneurs on opportunities for enterprise growth.
She said one of the most striking findings from the engagements was that Kenyan entrepreneurs are already working extremely hard but many remain stuck in what the report describes as a “transitioning hustle economy.” In this environment, effort is high but access to structured markets remains limited.
The Role of Structure in Economic Growth
Behavioral scientist and leadership coach Irene Njoroge emphasized that economic transformation occurs when systems eliminate barriers that hinder entrepreneurs.
“The secret of change is not to push harder, it is to remove friction. Structure removes friction that keeps people stuck. When systems are structured people trust,” Njoroge said.
Njoroge also highlighted three mindsets that often prevent entrepreneurs from entering structured markets: the survival mindset, the blame mindset, and the hustle mindset. She said overcoming these attitudes requires building systems that reward consistency, quality and accountability.
Lessons from Structured Industries
Industry experts at the event shared examples of how structured markets operate in successful sectors.
Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi noted that the flower industry is among the most organised agricultural sectors in the country.
According to him, flower farms plant, harvest and export every day of the year, and the industry has investors involved at every stage of the supply chain. He added that smallholder farmers can easily integrate into the system because the standards and processes are clearly defined.
He summed up the sector’s approach by stating: “A flower is not a product. A flower is a process.”
Opportunities in Livestock Markets
Livestock expert David Maina compared the flower industry with the livestock sector, which he described as largely disorganised despite its significant economic potential.
He suggested introducing grading systems and feeding hubs, similar to the Galana Kulalu model, where livestock can be temporarily brought for feeding, weight improvement and standardised grading before entering the market.
Such structures, he said, could unlock major economic opportunities for pastoralists and smallholder livestock farmers.
Housing and Technology as Market Enablers
Other speakers highlighted how policy and technology can support the creation of structured markets.
David Muiru, Managing Director of Glimco Limited, said the Affordable Housing Program is helping bring greater organisation and professionalism to the real estate sector.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Bett, Managing Partner at Dibon Co Ltd, emphasized that businesses seeking to transition from informal operations to structured markets must adopt technology that supports record keeping, tracking and customer experience systems.
Towards a First-World Opportunity System
Organisers said the launch of the Fursa Index signals the start of a broader national conversation on building structured opportunity systems that can enable Kenyan enterprises to scale, attract investment and compete globally.
The findings from the index are expected to inform future policy discussions and guide efforts aimed at transitioning Kenyan enterprises from a hustle-driven economy to structured participation in real markets.
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