Call for single Small and Micro Enterprises licence in counties

By Joseph Muchiri

Embu, Kenya: The Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development plans to harmonise licensing of Small and Micro Enterprises (SME) to make it easier to market their products in all counties.

PS Cyrus Njiru said many entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to pay multiple licences in each of the counties they market and sell their products.

He said the challenge could cripple the Government’s efforts to achieve Vision 2030 as it would demotivate potential industrialists.

“SMEs have raised concern that they are required to pay a licence in each county they seek market for their products unlike before when they would pay only the municipal council where their industry is located.

“The Government needs to engage the counties and find ways of harmonising licensing regimes to make inter-county marketing easier,” he said.

Mr Njiru said the ministry would engage other arms of the Government to resolve the problem and other teething challenges that might crop up in the way of devolution.

He assured that the Government is committed to partnering with and facilitating SMEs since they had shown ability to create employment opportunities.

Speaking in Embu during a tour of Aspen Orchard food industry Thursday, Njiru said they were encouraging such food processing industries to create more jobs in various counties.

Industrialisation

“Kenya is short of industries and we are encouraging more people to invest in food industries for the country to create more wealth and job opportunities,” he said.

He said they had signed an SME pact for Embu County where 25 acres of land was provided at Njukiri for industrialisation activities.

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