Equity Bank is stepping up efforts to connect Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to global markets by promoting value addition, smart agriculture and easier access to finance.
The bank says the strategy is aimed at helping businesses move beyond the sale of raw materials and become competitive participants in regional and international supply chains.
The approach took centre stage during a business dinner bringing together Equity Bank executives, the Narok County Government and members of the local business community.
Narok, traditionally known for tourism centred around the Maasai Mara National Reserve and rain-fed wheat farming, is increasingly emerging as a diversified commercial hub driven by agriculture, livestock, trade and tourism.
Equity Bank Managing Director Moses Nyabanda said financial support must go beyond increasing production and focus on connecting producers with profitable markets.
“We are seeing farmers adopting smart agriculture, moving away from how our forefathers farmed,” Nyabanda said.
He said the bank wants farmers to benefit from processing and value addition rather than relying solely on raw commodity sales.
“If you are a livestock farmer, we want to see how we can link you to markets that buy processed leather for designer bags, rather than selling raw hides for a fraction of the price,” he added.
The bank also plans to align agricultural loan disbursements with local farming cycles to help farmers access capital when they need it most.
Nyabanda committed to a two-week turnaround time for agricultural credit, saying delays in accessing financing could cause farmers to miss critical planting windows.
Equity Bank Commercial Director Kagiso Moloi said Narok’s expanding economy presents significant opportunities for businesses and financial institutions.
“Narok is not a small market to us,” Moloi said, citing growth in livestock, trade and tourism.
“Our job is to fund that growth and move money quickly and safely,” he added.
The bank is also using asset finance and unsecured lending to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs.
Equity Bank Kenya Head of Retail and Branch Business Carol Rutto said customers seeking tractors and commercial trucks could access financing of up to 105 per cent.
The bank is also offering unsecured loans of up to Sh10 million, she said, providing an alternative for entrepreneurs who may lack conventional collateral.
For farmers in regions where land ownership arrangements have historically limited access to formal credit, such financing models could provide additional opportunities to expand operations.
Veteran farmer Okipira Ole Tutai recalled that access to agricultural finance was previously difficult for young farmers without title deeds.
He said flexible lending eventually enabled him to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, including acquiring tractors and commercial property.
Business owners also highlighted the role of financial institutions in helping enterprises withstand economic shocks.
Education investors in Narok recalled how loan repayment moratoriums during the Covid-19 pandemic helped private institutions avoid widespread closures while economic activity was disrupted.
The forum also addressed concerns over loan repayment and the treatment of borrowers facing financial difficulties.
Narok County Executive Committee Member for Finance David Ole Muntet urged banks to consider alternative approaches when dealing with loan defaults.
“Borrowing is a wedding, but paying back can feel like a funeral,” Muntet said, calling for more flexible recovery mechanisms before lenders resort to property auctions.
The discussions point to a broader shift in SME financing, with businesses seeking not only credit but also market access, technology, value addition and financial support tailored to their operating cycles.
For Narok’s growing enterprises, the focus is increasingly shifting from producing more raw materials to building businesses capable of capturing greater value from their products.