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Trade

MSME DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

The Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism through the directorate of Trade, Marketing and Industry is mandated to develop and implement Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development programs in the county.
In this regard, a 2-day training session to assist MSMEs unlock their business potential was organized. The training scheduled for 10th & 11th June 2024 at Acacia Hotel in Wote, Makueni County covered the following areas;
i) Getting started
ii) Business registration and licensing in the county
ii) Capital requirements
iii) Access to financing and financial management
iv) Development of networks and partners
v) Introduction to export trade
vi) Development of export market strategies
vii) Product development, product certification and branding for export
viii) Identifying export markets and linkages
For effective implementation, the department engaged various stakeholders including Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), Kenya Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Makueni Revenue Office.

CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Executive Committee Member Dr. Sonia Nzilani led the inaugural celebration of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development in Wote.

The celebrations highlights the richness of the world’s cultures and role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

Dr. Nzilani noted that the UN-Sanctioned observance day was an enabler and economic driver adding that the event envisaged to give impetus to the institutionalization of culture of observance of international days in the county.

She as well stressed the need to increase budget allocations on cultural activities, noting that the promotion of the respect for diversity and intercultural dialogue is important for the county whose urban centers are increasingly becoming cosmopolitan.

The activity saw the winners of the 96th edition of the Kenya music festivals as well as the cultural festival winners of the plug Mtaani awarded with certificates.

DR. SONIA NZILANI, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRADE, MARKETING INDUSTRY, CULTURE, AND TOURISM, RECENTLY SPEARHEADED THE DISTRIBUTION OF 20 WATER TANKS.

Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing Industry, Culture, and Tourism, recently spearheaded the distribution of 20 water tanks generously donated by a partnership between the National Government’s Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.
The initiative is designed to bolster wildlife conservation efforts in areas facing significant Human-Wildlife conflict within Makueni County, with a particular focus on benefiting Early Childhood Centers in Kibwezi East Sub-County and Kitise Kithuki ward.

MAKUENI, MINISTRY OF TOURISM MOOT JOINT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Makueni County and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife have set the ball rolling towards joint tourism development and marketing.

During a tourism stakeholders meeting attended by players from both levels of government at Chyullu National Park on Friday, several approaches were fronted that will make Makueni a top tourist destination and boost local revenue.

These are:

1. Regularizing and promoting the South Eastern Kenya tourism circuit;

2. Working with industry players to set up hotels and tour agency investments around Chyulu;

3. Rehabilitation of Makindu airstrip;

4. Setting up four entry gates to Chyullu National Park at Makindu, Kaunguni, Metava and Katheka Kai with a view of promoting domestic tourism.

The meeting graced by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr also agreed to develop a formula for sharing carbon credit revenue realized from the park.

Dr. Mutua promised to expedite completion of the electric fence around the park to put a permanent stop to the human-wildlife conflict that has left a long trail of death and destruction of property and crops in the larger Kibwezi area.

DR. SONIA NZILANI, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY, MARKETING, CULTURE, AND TOURISM INTERACTS WITH TRADERS AT KIKIMA, WINZENI, TUVILANI, AND MUKAATINI MARKETS IN MBOONI SUB COUNTY.

Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Industry, Marketing, Culture, and Tourism interacts with traders at Kikima, Winzeni, Tuvilani, and Mukaatini markets in Mbooni Sub County, Thursday, on trading services concerns.

Issues addressed included sanitation and trading space. Dr Sonia reassured the traders of the department’s dedication to enhance and entrepreneurship in the county. Dr. Sonia encouraged them to adopt greening to improve cultural attraction sites, community health and climate change resilience.

Additionally, she inspected the designated site for the Mbooni West dumping site.

MAKUENI COUNTY JOINS FORCES WITH NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA AND NATURAL PRODUCT INDUSTRY TO DRIVE CULTURAL INNOVATION

A dynamic collaboration between the Trade and Culture directorate, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Natural Product Industry recently unfolded during a three-day workshop at the Kilimani Breeze Hotel. The workshop’s central aim was to validate the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Innovation Bank (InKiBank) while strategically identifying and prioritizing IK assets within Makueni County for cultural product development and eventual commercialization.

The workshop served as a melting pot of ideas, drawing together an eclectic mix of stakeholders. This included Makueni County’s energetic young culture champions, the esteemed Akamba Clans Governing Council of Elders, and key representatives from the County Assembly committees on Culture and Finance. Notably, various county departments, such as Finance, Trade, Tourism, and the County Attorney, played active roles, demonstrating a holistic approach to both cultural and economic advancement.

With robust participation from diverse sectors, the workshop emerged as a center for innovative thinking and strategic planning. Its overarching goal is to tap into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage embedded within Makueni County. By prioritizing IK assets, the initiative aims to unlock fresh opportunities for cultural product development and sustainable commercialization, promising both economic growth and the preservation of the region’s rich cultural identity.

MAKUENI SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTRES (SBDC)’S TRAINING OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES) IN KIKIMA-MBOONI.

The Department of Trade partnered with Kenya Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to support in the establishment of sustainable MSMEs by ensuring their full participation in the economy and creation of jobs. In Kikima-Mbooni, 148 entrepreneurs (116 females and 32 males) were trained on: Business finance management, bookkeeping, business conceptualization, spotting a business opportunity and market penetration. MSMEs were also sensitized on Soko-Makueni, a marketing e-portal platform, to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and utilize the platform effectively.

A Section of Entrepreneurs Attending the Makueni SBDC Business Training Sessions in Kikima-Mbooni.