Mid 2020 Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation launched a Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience program aimed at ensuring business continuity and sustainability among MSMEs impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic

The program included an MSME finance facility that provided short-term interest free loans for the following sectors; hawkers, Juakali, Fashion Industry, retailers and restaurant. The loan amount was between 20,000 to 30,000 with a repayment period of two months.

The Chamber President Mr. Richard Ngatia, Chamber 1st Vice President Dr. Erick Rutto and Mastercard Project Coordinator Ms. Louise Kabucho took the initiative to visit KNCCI-Trans-Nzoia under the leadership of the Chairperson Mr. Martin Waliaula to encourage beneficiaries of the loans to pay their balances and also to try and mitigate any challenges that may hinder them from paying their loans.

Repayments of the loans is a noble course that will see that Phase two of the project is rolled out to ensure business continuity Amidist the Covid-19 pandemic.

After the consultative engagement with the beneficiaries of the (MSMEs) Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience program the Chamber Leadership were hosted by Tranzoia County Governor His Excellency Mr. Patrick Khaemba, County commissioner. Also present were the KNCCI county chairpersons from Uasin Gishu and West Pokot. They deliberated on having a conducive business environment and creating market linkages for agricultural products from Trasnszoia.

They visited Suam border post that is meant to increase trade between Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan by reducing transit time by more than half. KNCCI gave its assurance in ensuring smooth cross border trade.