Economic Opportunities Projects

JOINT DELEGATION EVALUATES SUCCESS OF DIASPORA-LED ENTERPRISE INITIATIVES IN KENYA’S RIFT VALLEY

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Thursday, August 28, 2025(RIFT VALLEY)__A delegation from the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, headed by Mr. Boniface Munzala, the Director of the Savings, Investment & Remittances (SIR) Division, and including Dr. Christoph Zipfel, the Director of the Sustainable Economic Development Cluster at GIZ Kenya, along with Ms. Fridah Kibuko, the GIZ-WIDU Country Coordinator, has successfully concluded a comprehensive two-day working visit to Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties.

The purpose of the visit was to engage directly with beneficiaries of the WIDU Africa Initiative. This program, which is implemented by GIZ, is dedicated to supporting small businesses throughout Africa, including Kenya, by providing them with essential coaching and co-financing opportunities. The initiative’s unique design effectively combines hands-on technical support delivered locally with financial contributions sourced from the African diaspora residing in Europe.

This model of blending diaspora remittances with structured coaching creates a powerful framework that not only supplies capital to businesses but also actively strengthens their long-term operational sustainability.

Throughout the visit, the delegation held productive meetings with a diverse range of enterprises that have directly benefited from WIDU’s multifaceted support. One such enterprise was the MedGlobe Salient Clinic located in Kipkaren Salient. This facility originated as a modest pharmacy offering basic medicines and over-the-counter drugs.

With the backing of WIDU, it has since undergone a significant expansion, transforming into a fully-fledged clinic that now provides comprehensive outpatient services to the local community, thereby addressing a critical healthcare gap in the area.

The team also visited Edka Concepts, a tree nursery situated in Kebulwet that was established in 2020. This enterprise supplies a wide variety of seedlings, including indigenous trees, coffee, and avocado, across Nandi, Uasin Gishu, and Baringo Counties. Beyond its commercial sales activities, it functions as an important training hub for the community, utilizing demonstration plots and field days to equip local farmers with practical skills in sustainable agriculture.

This project successfully combines the goals of environmental conservation with tangible livelihood improvement, serving a dual role as both a green business and a vital community resource center.

In Sinonin, the group conducted a tour of Kipkenda Poultry Farm, a thriving agribusiness venture that produces chicks, eggs, and poultry while also pioneering cost-saving innovations in feed production.

By integrating Azolla into its feed formulation, the farm has managed to significantly lower its production costs and now also distributes Azolla seeds to other farmers throughout the region. This innovation has created a positive ripple effect, effectively reducing expenses and boosting productivity across the wider poultry farming sector in the region.

Within Uasin Gishu County, the delegation visited Samoo Tea, which is based in Sukunanga. This enterprise specializes in the blending, packaging, and distribution of tea within Uasin Gishu and its neighboring counties. Recognized for its valuable contribution to enhancing food security, Samoo Tea was nominated for the prestigious WIDU Kenya Awards in 2024 and ultimately emerged as the winner in the food security category.

Another site visited was the Emerald Valley Medical Center in Eldoret City, a healthcare facility that offers a suite of services including outpatient, optical, and pharmacy services. This center is playing a crucial role in expanding access to quality healthcare for residents of Eldoret and the surrounding areas.

The delegation also made a stop at Humpty Dumpty Eldoret, a day care center located in Elgon View that applies an international model to its early childhood services. The institution has developed plans to establish a preschool, a move that will ensure educational continuity for children as they graduate from day care into a more formal education system, all while retaining them within the institution’s overarching program.

Furthermore, the team revisited the Siloam Eye Clinic to conduct a detailed assessment of the substantial progress it has made since its initial launch with WIDU's support.

Collectively, these diverse enterprises serve to highlight the truly transformative impact of diaspora-driven initiatives. By strategically channeling financial resources, valuable mentorship, and global perspectives back to their home country, Kenyans living abroad are actively fueling innovation, job creation, and enhanced community resilience. Through the structured support of the WIDU Africa Initiative, small and medium-sized enterprises are successfully moving beyond mere subsistence to establish robust and sustainable income streams, all while addressing critical local needs in sectors such as healthcare, education, food security, and environmental sustainability.

This high-level visit underscored the vital understanding that the Kenyan diaspora constitutes far more than just a source of remittances; it is an essential and active partner in driving the nation's socio-economic transformation.

Each enterprise supported under the WIDU program clearly reflects how strategic contributions from abroad directly translate into tangible, positive change on the ground: from clinics providing essential healthcare and farms empowering agricultural communities to innovative enterprises inspiring a new wave of local entrepreneurship.