Ecobank Kenya has committed to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through enhanced financial products, business advisory services and strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating business growth and strengthening the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking during an SME breakfast meeting held under the theme “Empowering Your Business for Sustainable Growth,” Ecobank Kenya Managing Director Rebecca Mbithi said the bank is deepening its support for entrepreneurs by improving access to finance, accelerating lending decisions and providing tailored solutions that address the evolving needs of small businesses.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders and ecosystem partners to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Kenya’s SME sector and explore practical ways to promote sustainable business growth.
“SMEs are not simply another customer segment to us. They are innovators, manufacturers, traders, service providers and job creators who drive Kenya’s economy every day. They are the heartbeat of Kenya’s economy and are central to Ecobank’s purpose,” said Mbithi.
She noted that supporting African businesses has remained central to Ecobank’s mission since its establishment in 1985, adding that the bank’s presence across 34 African countries positions it uniquely to support businesses seeking regional expansion.
“Ecobank was founded to finance African enterprise. Supporting entrepreneurs is part of our DNA. As African businesses increasingly look beyond their domestic markets, they need a banking partner with the regional footprint, expertise and networks to support that ambition,” she said.
Mbithi also highlighted the bank’s Single Market Trade Hub, a digital platform that connects businesses with trusted buyers and sellers across Africa while providing market intelligence, trade information and insights into product demand across different countries.
The breakfast meeting also featured entrepreneur Flora Mutahi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Melvin Marsh International and a Non-Executive Director on Ecobank Kenya’s Board, who shared lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. She encouraged business owners to embrace continuous learning, innovation and strategic partnerships to build resilient enterprises.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya has approximately 7.4 million MSMEs, which contribute about 34 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and support nearly 16 million jobs, making the sector one of the largest contributors to employment and economic activity.
Despite their economic significance, many SMEs continue to struggle with access to finance, markets and business development support. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates Kenya’s SME financing gap at more than US$19 billion (approximately KSh2.5 trillion).
To help bridge this financing gap, Ecobank has expanded its portfolio of SME solutions, including working capital loans, asset financing, stock financing, unsecured lending for qualifying businesses, trade finance, foreign exchange services, cash management solutions and digital banking platforms designed to simplify business operations.
Recognising that financing alone is not enough, the bank is also strengthening collaborations with partners such as the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and Melanin Kapital to reduce lending risk while providing entrepreneurs with business advisory services and capacity-building support.
Ecobank’s SME strategy has earned international recognition, with the bank recently being named Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs by Euromoney for its integrated commercial banking proposition across the continent.
Across Africa, Ecobank Group supported more than 4.5 million MSMEs in 2025, trained over 90,000 entrepreneurs through digital programmes across 25 countries, expanded access to finance for more than 929,000 women-owned micro and retail enterprises, and disbursed more than US$783 million to female-owned businesses.
The bank said it will continue investing in innovative financial and non-financial solutions that empower entrepreneurs, strengthen business resilience and unlock new opportunities for sustainable economic growth across Kenya and the wider African continent.
