New sales training initiative launched in Nairobi to address skills gap

Janet Mutisya, CEO Career Management Center. [Christopher Gisiri, Standard]

A new initiative aimed at transforming the sales profession in Africa has been unveiled in Nairobi. The Kenya School of Sales (KSS) seeks to address the critical skills gap in the continent's sales industry.

Co-founded by the Commercial Club of Africa (CCA) and Yusudi, KSS aims to professionalise the sector and provide formal training to sales professionals, with a goal of certifying 1,000 by 2026.

The launch event, held at the Hyatt Regency, brought together over 50 senior executives, HR leaders and professionals from industries including FMCG, tech, manufacturing and finance.

KSS will offer CPD-accredited training programmes in partnership with the UK's Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP).

"Sales capability isn't a luxury, it's the engine that drives topline performance and unlocks Africa's commercial future," said Luck Ochieng, Managing Director of Unilever East Africa.

The school's 12-week CPD-certified curriculum will cover six career tracks, including frontline sales, management, leadership and training.

It will also feature a hybrid learning model combining virtual modules and in-person workshops.

Janet Mutisya, Career Management Centre boss, spoke on the importance of nurturing talent early.

"Just like lions train their cubs to hunt, we're training Africa's next generation of sales leaders to conquer the commercial wild," she said.

Kelvin Kuria, CEO of CCA, described KSS as a movement to celebrate sales professionals as "growth architects, not just executors."

Olive Kamande, CEO of Yusudi, said sales should be positioned as a career of choice.

"We're building a globally accredited, industry-informed sales training system that ensures sales is a career of first choice, not last resort," Kamande said.

Applications for the first cohort open on May 24.