NCBA Bank has partnered with Kabarak University to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through training and mentorship programs aimed at improving management, governance, and business sustainability.
The collaboration seeks to empower entrepreneurs across the country with practical business knowledge to help them run their enterprises more efficiently and boost grassroots economic growth.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at Kabarak University, NCBA Head of SME Banking, Robert Kiboti, said many small businesses in Kenya struggle due to limited business management skills.
He noted that the bank is working with institutions that share its vision of developing the SME sector to address this challenge.
“Taking cognisance of the criticality of SME in the country from the GDP perspective as well as creation of employment, one of the challenges is knowledge of running the enterprises, and that is why we have come to partner with Kabarak University, particularly to support the needs of customers across the Rift valley region and the western part of the country,” he said.
Kiboti added that the training will help entrepreneurs improve governance and sustainability in their operations. He said NCBA remains committed to helping SMEs scale up their businesses and play a stronger role in driving national development.
Kabarak University Vice Chancellor Prof. Henry Kiplagat said the partnership aligns with the university’s community outreach mission and will contribute to empowering business owners with knowledge that promotes long-term success.
“Individually owned enterprises don’t go beyond the founders, and we usually see the collapse of such businesses, so this training is crucial to build the capacity and knowledge of those in the SME sector to sustain them beyond the founders,” he said.
Prof. Kiplagat added that the training will be led by the university’s Faculty of Business and Economics, which will combine academic expertise with practical experience to help entrepreneurs strengthen their enterprises.
NCBA Group Director of Retail Banking, Dennis Njau, said SMEs are central to Kenya’s economy and the bank will continue supporting them through partnerships that promote innovation and business resilience.
“SME’s are the engine of economic growth in Kenya, and the partnership with the institution will offer customers strategic business skills to navigate the complex dynamics in the modern business world,” he said.
The four-month training program will be conducted by experts from Kabarak University and NCBA. It will cover key areas such as financial management, leadership, governance, innovation, and sustainability.
The initiative is expected to benefit hundreds of entrepreneurs in the Rift Valley and Western regions, strengthening small enterprises and helping them expand their reach.
Both institutions expressed optimism that the program will produce a new generation of well-equipped, forward-thinking business owners capable of building enterprises that last beyond their founders.
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