Youth in Kenya to benefit from auto-parts business deal

NAIROBI: General Motors East Africa (GMEA) has entered into a deal with a State agency to help youth venture into spare parts business.

Branded as ‘Isuzu Mashinani’, the project aims to make available original Isuzu car spare parts that will be sold in outlets across the country. The shops that are in the form of containers will be leased to registered youth groups that have been identified and vetted by the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA).

The groups are required to purchase original Isuzu spare parts worth Sh200,000, and stock them in the containers.

“Through this initiative, we will enhance the ease of access to genuine parts and thus improve operational efficiency and economic performance,” GMEA Managing Director Rita Kavashe said.

The youth groups will be made of jua kali artisans, mechanics, drivers and entrepreneurs with an eye for opportunity. GMEA in collaboration with MSEA have been running three pilot projects in Mlolongo, Thika and Kiambu. They intend after the agreement, to dispatch more containers to all 47 counties.

MSEA has been tasked with organising these youth groups into clusters, and help them get funding.

“We have partnered with K-rep Bank to get loans that will enable youths get the funding they need,” MSEA Board Chairman Charles Waithaka said. “We will involve the Youth Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, Uwezo Fund and CDF entrepreneurs support fund for our members to source capital,” Mr Waithaka added.

Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation Adan Mohamed decried the proliferation of counterfeit goods in the country. “With the market share of counterfeit parts in the country currently standing at 77 per cent, a lot more needs to be done through collaborative efforts with private entities,” he said.