Youth innovation hubs in Kenya are calling for stronger partnerships with government agencies, development organisations, financial institutions, and private-sector players to attract investment and accelerate youth-led enterprises. This call was made during the Youth Innovation Hubs and Stakeholder Engagement Forum convened by Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) in collaboration with Nailab, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The forum aimed to connect youth-led innovation hubs with potential investors, technical experts, and strategic partners.
The forum, held in Nairobi, is part of the four-year UN Joint Programme on Youth Skills, Employability and Civic Engagement, supported by the Government of Canada. The programme aims to improve access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly for young women and marginalised youth. John Mingala, Director of Trade, Cooperatives and Marketing at the Kisumu County Government, emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in addressing resource constraints facing national and county governments in supporting enterprise development.
Mingala stressed that county governments have a responsibility to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He noted that collaboration between county governments, development partners, financial institutions, and innovation hubs is essential in bridging existing gaps in funding, technical expertise, and market access. According to Mingala, such partnerships could help young entrepreneurs access opportunities that individual institutions might struggle to provide independently.
Mingala urged county governments to incorporate youth and women-led enterprises into their development planning frameworks, including the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and annual development plans. Effective planning would enable counties to set measurable targets, track progress, and identify areas requiring additional intervention. He observed that young people and women have historically faced barriers in accessing business opportunities, financial resources, and markets.
In Kisumu County, the government is pursuing several initiatives aimed at improving enterprise development, including policies designed to strengthen local production, promote cooperatives, and expand market access. One such initiative is the ‘Buy Kisumu, Build Kisumu’ policy, which seeks to encourage the consumption of locally manufactured products while ensuring that businesses meet the required quality and standardisation requirements.
The Kisumu County government is working with organisations, including GIZ, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), to support entrepreneurs in improving product quality and accessing markets. KIRDI provides entrepreneurs with access to equipment and technical support, particularly those unable to afford the initial capital required to establish production facilities. Mingala also stressed the importance of cooperatives as a vehicle for young people to pool resources, share knowledge, and build stronger businesses.
Mingala encouraged young entrepreneurs to familiarise themselves with existing funding opportunities offered by both national and county governments. He cited various lucrative government-supported financing programmes targeting youth and women-led businesses. The Trade Director described the Nairobi forum as an important platform for connecting innovation hubs from different regions, allowing them to exchange experiences, identify common challenges, and learn from successful approaches adopted in their respective organisations.
Key points
- Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial in addressing resource constraints facing national and county governments in supporting enterprise development.
- County governments should incorporate youth and women-led enterprises into their development planning frameworks.
- Youth innovation hubs require partnerships with government agencies, development organisations, and private-sector players to attract investment and accelerate youth-led enterprises.
