A section of Small, Micro and Medium traders from Kimilili have called on the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, KNCC to conduct thorough training to members before lending out money to groups. This comes amid statements from Chamber director David Kibiti who called on small scale traders from Bungoma County to register in large numbers so as to benefit from goodies from the Chamber.
Speaking to West Media, he told traders that the Chamber besides giving out loans, will also conduct an expo in partnership with the County government of Bungoma in making sure that traders get an opportunity to showcase their products.
The traders have claimed that the idea of lending money to SME’s could be of great value to the majority of them only if they get to know much about the Chamber. “The idea is good, most of us here are running a stock due to hard economic times,” said Everlyne Makokha, a cereals vendor in Kimilili town.
Traders have also asked the Bungoma County government through the department of Trade to at least make sure that all SME groups benefit from the budgetary allocation set aside for them.
The Chamber Chief Executive Officer Bungoma branch Patrice Chenge, echoed Kibiti’s sentiments adding that the Chamber has up to sixteen million shillings meant to individual traders registered with them.
Chenge added that by January 2024, the Chamber will be conducting training to small scale traders on matters concerning their businesses, challenges and on how to curb them.
By Thaddeus Wachiye
