Richard Muteti hands over tools of trade to young entrepreneurs in Makueni County in Kenya

Richard Muteti the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations Handing over tools of trade to at least 184 young entrepreneurs in Makueni County to start and grow their businesses in the Jua Kali/MSMEs sector under the "Ujuzi Teke Teke"(Skills on the go) Youth Empowerment Programme in Makueni County with H. E. Governor Kivutha Kibwana,. Ujuzi Teketeke is a 8-week youth life skills training initiative where learners are attached to established craftsmen for on-the-job training to equip young people with industrial skills.Those who successfully complete the training are issued start-up kits to start their own biz. The programme is supported by the National Industrial Training Authority & Kenya National Federation of Juakali Association. Areas of focus include:Catering, Barber and salon, Mechanics, Plumbing, Carpentry, Masonry, Photography & video production, Agribusiness, Tailoring &Welding. A Youth Empowerment Programme, targeting hundreds of young people in the informal sector                        

Richard Muteti, SMEs and Jua Kali Sector Chief attends CEOs breakfast meeting with EABC CEO and EAC Secretary General

calling for the development, promotion and certification of informal/MSMEs sector skills in the EAC region to improve their competitiveness and productivity. “we must prepare the MSMEs Sector players to take advantage of the African continental free trade area- during the EABC CEO breakfast roundtable with EAC Secretary General - Kenyan Chapter held today 06/08/2021

MSMEs constitute more than 80 percent of all total jobs in EAC region

Richard Muteti is also the Chairman of the COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-Group

Richard Muteti, the East African Community SMEs and Jua Kali Sector Chief attends an EASTRIP Meeting in Addis

Three East African countries are participating in the Eastern Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), i.e. Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The project supports the development of highly specialized Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs as well as industry-recognized short term certificate level training, and is targeting regional priority sectors in transport, energy, manufacturing and ICT / the project promotes the mobility of students and faculty within and beyond the region and will establish a community of practice of TVET in the region. A quality demand-driven TVET system can be a powerful engine for youth skills development leading to employment and poverty alleviation

Richard Muteti and Intellectual Property Rights:

Richard Muteti, CEO Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations and also Chairman of COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-Group leads a group of 300 small business owners from the Artisans National Jua Kali Federation in participating in training on the use of Intellectual Property Rights to improve productivity and competitiveness among MSMEs at KICC with representation from several Counties-Protecting MSMEs Innovations in Kenya in support to the County's Agenda 4 development Agenda

Brief on COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-Group

The 1st CBC- SME Associations Consultative workshop; towards advocacy on Constraints to SMEs in the region was held in April 2013 in Egypt. This led to the formation of the CBC SME Workgroup; which consist of the national SME Associations in the region; derived from each COMESA member state. The Work Group is currently chaired by Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations (KNFJKA), Mr Richard Muteti.

The Work plan of the SME Technical Workgroup; is derived from its Terms of References;

• Lobby and advocate for the interest of the private sector in the policy making process at COMESA and at the national level and regional level;
• Ensure a harmonized and informed position is presented to the CBC Board for advocacy with all interests of the sectors represented;
• Ensure Increased Policy Dialogue between Public and Private Sector at the regional level;
• Ensure that the positions of Work Group are presented to the policy organs meetings for consideration;
• Ensure increased participation of the private sector membership in policy dialogue.

CBC provides demand driven services and proactive services in terms of advocacy, business linkages and membership development for SME Work group. We are working towards capacity building programs to strengthen the technical and skills capacities of SMES and facilitate their participation in COMESA regional value chains.

The Work Group is currently chaired by Mr. Richard Muteti who serves the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in various capacities both within Kenya, East African Community and the COMESA region in general. Muteti is the founder of Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa (SMES-EA) and author of the inaugural “The SME Handbook” series in Kenya.

https://comesa-smes.blogspot.com/

Kenya Hosts the 19th EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi MSMEs Exhibition.

Close to 2000 Small Business Owners from 40 Counties and 5 East African  Partner States attend the 19th EAC Jua Kali MSMEs Exhibition in Eldoret showcasing the various products and services from SMEs and graced by H.E. Deputy President of Kenya Hon. Ruto, Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Trade Hon. Munya, H.E Hon. Mandago, Governor of Uasin Gishu County among other dignitaries from the EAC Partner States.

The nine (9) day event (2^nd-10^th December 2018)  was managed by Mr. Richard Muteti the Regional Project Manager of the EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions and who also serves the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in various capacities both within Kenya, East African Community and the COMESA region in general. Muteti is the founder of Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa (SMES-EA) , author of the inaugural “ SME Handbook” series in Kenya and the Current Chairman of the COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-Group

Richard Muteti Chairman, COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-group and CEO, Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations

Meeting the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya

Strengthening the partnerships and linkages between the Small Businesses Sector and the cooperative movement in Kenya-Myriads of opportunities to be harnessed

The Co-operative University of Kenya is a specialized university in a unique niche of the economy sustaining millions of lives in Kenya. The institution has played a key role in setting the co-operative agenda in the nation which has contributed in shaping Kenya’s economy, among the issues discussed were:

Formation of cooperatives

Training members of the MSME associations

Opportunities for incubation, innovation, commercialization of ideas and capacity building among others