Government support for small traders and jua kali businesses
Micro and Small Enterprises Act · sources read 5 Oct 2026
The Micro and Small Enterprises Act set up the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) to promote and develop small businesses, jua kali included. Register with MSEA's Registrar of MSEs, then apply to MSEA for help with markets, training, technology and shared workshop machinery.
- Where
- Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA): Registrar of MSEs, 3rd Floor Utalii House, Nairobi, and County Commissioners' offices; online on msea.ecitizen.go.ke
Steps
- Register your business, group or association with the Registrar of MSEs, an office set up under section 4 of the Act.
- Apply to MSEA to be linked to markets, trade fairs and exhibitions.
- Ask MSEA for entrepreneurship and skills training for you or your association.
- Use the shared workshop machines and facilities at MSEA's Kariobangi MSE Centre.
- If you belong to a registered MSE association or umbrella organization, it can apply to MSEA for a loan, factoring, guarantee or micro-insurance from the MSE Development Fund for its members.
Watch out
- To register as an MSE association you need at least 35 members; smaller groups register as groups.
- Disputes inside an MSE association or umbrella body go to the Registrar of MSEs to resolve.
- The Act does not set rules for handing out worksites to individual businesses: MSEA's role is to advise and facilitate government agencies to provide worksites and to advise on zoning land for small businesses.
Who this covers
- Micro and small enterprises (including jua kali), MSE associations and MSE umbrella organizations.
- The Act's aim is the promotion, development and regulation of micro and small enterprises.
- Micro enterprise: annual turnover up to KSh 500,000 and fewer than 10 employees (investment up to KSh 10 million in manufacturing, or KSh 5 million in services and farming).
- Small enterprise: annual turnover between KSh 500,000 and KSh 5 million and 10 to 50 employees (investment KSh 10-50 million in manufacturing, or KSh 5-20 million in services and farming).
Official sources (4)
- Our Organization msea.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Registrar of MSEs msea.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- MSEA Service Charter (English) msea.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Micro and Small Enterprises Act (Cap. 499C, No. 55 of 2012), version of 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026