More than 100 entrepreneurs from the Mt. Kenya region gathered in Meru for the latest edition of the Grow with Safaricom Business Forum. Initiative aimed at equipping business owners with the knowledge, tools, and digital strategies to accelerate sustainable growth.
Boosting regional business capacity
The forum, themed “Fueling Financial Growth through Innovation,” marks a continuation of Safaricom’s efforts to nurture entrepreneurship outside of major urban centers. With this event, the total number of beneficiaries in the Mt. Kenya region now exceeds 250. This is after a similar session held in Nanyuki last year that focused on Financial Wellness, Security, and Data Privacy.
“Innovation has often been viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity,” noted Frankline Okata, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom PLC. “Many businesses, especially those outside Nairobi, are left behind in the digital transformation conversation. That’s why we are taking these important conversations directly to entrepreneurs.”
Addressing MSME challenges
Across Kenya, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) employ over 80 per cent of the working population. However, data shows that nearly half of these businesses do not survive beyond their third year. The Grow with Safaricom forum is designed to reverse this trend by offering practical, tech-driven solutions.
The platform helps entrepreneurs digitise their operations, improve customer experience, and explore innovative avenues for scaling their ventures. Through in-depth discussions and training sessions, participants explore how to streamline processes, increase visibility, and build resilient businesses in the digital age.
Nationwide impact since 2024
Launched in March 2024, the Grow with Safaricom initiative has so far reached over 1,000 businesses. Across various regions like Coast, Nairobi, Greater Western, Rift, and Mt. Kenya regions.
The forum also serves as a networking hub. Furthermore, it’s enabling businesses to share insights and collaborate on solutions relevant to the evolving digital economy.
Safaricom’s ongoing commitment to connecting, enabling, protecting, and transforming businesses continues to offer MSMEs a critical lifeline. Additionally underserved regions, through expert knowledge, strategic tools, and peer-to-peer learning.