Youth, MSMEs are key drivers of economic growth, Governor Malombe says

Issuing a communique after a week long working retreat for the Kitui County Budget and Economic Forum at a Mombasa hotel on Friday, Dr Malombe said the forum recommended the strengthening of MSMEs  as engines of local wealth creation and jobs generation. "This will be achieved through the promotion of cooperative and SACCO based financing, development of markets and industrial infrastructure as well as targeted capacity building in business management, digital literacy, and value additiion," said the County Chief.

The Kitui county governor added that  the forum also recommended that his administration should facilitate market access through e-commerce platforms and preferential local procurement, thus positioning Kitui as a hub for enterprise growth and innovation.

Malombe further said it was decided at the Mombasa CBEF meeting that youth empowerment and employment creation would be prioritized as a key pillar of the Kitui county development agenda. He announced that serious efforts would be made towards expanding youth access to training, mentorship and innovation opportunities.

The governor said establishment and operationalization of ICT innovation hubs, agribusiness incubation centres, and creative industry programs across all sub counties will serve to empower the youth of Kitui. "Partnership with private sector actors, learning institutions, and development agencies will be strengthened to enhance skills development, access to finance and job creation in agriculture, ICT, tourism and manufacturing pivotal sectors," he added.

He pointed out the CBEFs  acts as think tank for county governments  across the country on matters budgeting, economy, and financial management. 

Malombe said the deliberations of the Mombasa forum were focused on building consensus on key policy priorities to guide the FY 2025/2026 planning and budgeting cycle and the county's long-term development outlook.