This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
Reuben Muigai, a trader at Kahawa West Market, was struggling to keep his business afloat after the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020.
However, he received support from the Micro-Enterprises Strengthened for Pandemic Adaptation and Resilience in Kenya (mSPARK) programme, launched by TechnoServe and the Mastercard Foundation.
The programme provided digital and financial support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to help them survive the pandemic.
Mr Muigai registered for the programme, received online business training for two months, and was given a loan of Sh40,000 in November 2020.
The loan helped him pay rent and stock up on essential items, which gave him some little money.
With time, as Covid-19 infections reduced, business started picking up, and Mr Muigai expanded his business, bought another set of shaving machines, and opened a stall where he sells shoes.
He employed three more people and now manages his finances better.
Another beneficiary of the programme is Moses Wang'ang'a, who operates a chemist in Ujamaa area, Mombasa County.
Mr Wang'ang'a says the pharmacy was doing well before the pandemic, but Covid-19 cost many people jobs, and many of his clients sought drugs on credit.
He received a loan of Sh40,000 and used the cash to stock up on fast-moving drugs, which helped his business pick up.
Cyprian Amakalu, mSPARK Programme Manager at TechnoServe, says the initiative was started to help MSMEs remain afloat and sustain jobs during the pandemic.
The programme targeted six business categories, including shops, groceries, chemists, eateries, tailors, and kinyozi and salons.
Beneficiaries were identified by community mobilisers and received training and knowledge checks to measure their understanding of the training.
However, the money was not enough, and some businesses, like chemists, needed more money than they could get.
