Andrew Kamau, principal secretary at the State Department of Petroleum, has called on corporate entities to allocate resources toward fostering entrepreneurship as part of their social responsibility commitments.
Kamau emphasized that prioritizing startup development would address funding challenges and enhance scalability for emerging ventures. His remarks were made during the awards ceremony for this year's Total Start Upper of the Year initiative, which highlighted the role of innovation in achieving national economic goals.
The Big Four development agenda, focusing on key sectors like manufacturing and energy, relies heavily on locally driven solutions from startups, Kamau noted. He stressed that unlocking additional resources and opportunities is critical to reducing unemployment and ensuring business sustainability.
Total Kenya's mentorship program, which supported this year's winners—Rose Moses, James Nyamai, and Abraham Mbuthia—demonstrates corporate efforts to empower youth entrepreneurs. However, some companies argue that viable, scalable business ideas remain essential for accessing capital and training.
The initiative includes cash prizes and skill development for participants, despite ongoing challenges faced by Kenyan entrepreneurs. A 2016 image of jua kali industries accompanies the report, underscoring long-standing informal sector dynamics.
