NCBA, in partnership with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), has convened over 100 industry leaders at a high-level CEOs’ breakfast forum in Nairobi. The meeting explore innovative financial solutions aimed at revitalizing Kenya’s manufacturing sector.
Held under the theme “Unlocking Growth in Manufacturing through Value Chain Financing”. The event brought together key players from the manufacturing, financial, and public policy sectors. The forum aimed to discuss how value chain financing can boost competitiveness, sustainability, and growth in the industry.
Rethinking capital structures for industrial growth
Speaking at the forum, Tirus Mwithiga, Director of Corporate and Investment Banking Advisory at NCBA, emphasized the urgency of rethinking capital delivery models to support industrial development. “Manufacturing currently contributes 7.3 per cent to Kenya’s GDP, well below the government’s target of 20 per cent under Vision 2030. However, this forum underscores our commitment to go beyond banking and become true enablers of business transformation for manufacturers,” he said.
NCBA highlighted a suite of financial tools including asset leasing, trade finance, and supply chain financing. There, it’s designed to ease cash flow challenges and support business continuity across the manufacturing value chain.
The bank also stressed its commitment to long-term ecosystem-based solutions. It include policy advocacy, industry partnerships, and customized advisory services.
Supporting the entire value chain
“We are working closely with industry associations, aggregators, and off-takers to fund structures that traverse entire value chains,” Mwithiga added. “This reduces risk for our customers and ensures funding leads to measurable growth.”
Making everyone in the chain bankable
Tobias Alando, Chief Executive Officer at KAM, called for increased access to affordable and long-term financing tailored to the production cycles of manufacturers.
“When we talk about value chain financing, we’re talking about making everyone bankable. This will happen starting from the farmer and aggregator to the transporter and processor. It’s about ensuring that financing tools align with the needs and nature of the sector,” he noted.
Alando urged for more inclusive public-private dialogue to de-risk investment in primary processing.
Additionally, he stressed financial products that cater to SMEs as well as large-scale manufacturers. “We must support businesses to remain competitive not just locally but globally,” he said.
Sector snapshot: Manufacturing’s critical role
Furthermore, the manufacturing sector remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy, employing over 350,000 people directly and supporting more than 1.6 million indirectly. Despite registering a 2.1 per cent growth in Q1 2025 and contributing to an overall GDP growth of 4.9 per cent, the industry continues to grapple with limited access to affordable capital, fragmented supply chains, and low regional competitiveness.
The forum called for stronger collaboration between government, financiers, and industry stakeholders. Set to unlock the sector’s full potential and position it as a key driver of economic transformation.