Sidian Bank has partnered with Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) to expand access to credit and business support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 10, 2026, to provide MSMEs with innovative and personalised financial solutions, inclusive credit and business development support.
The partnership will focus on key barriers facing MSMEs, including access to affordable finance, appropriate credit, business skills and market opportunities.
Under the agreement, Sidian Bank and KIE will collaborate on capacity building, MSME training, graduated and blended financing, customer referrals and access to larger credit facilities as businesses grow.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development Susan Mang’eni said the partnership would form part of efforts to provide timely and affordable credit to businesses.
Mang’eni said Kenyan MSMEs have a financing demand of Ksh4 trillion, highlighting the need to rethink how finance and credit are designed and delivered to the sector.
“MSMEs account for a significant share of economic activity and job creation in our country. If we can strengthen credit inclusion and ensure that businesses have access to financing that is appropriate to their needs, we can create the conditions for them to grow and, in turn, drive broader economic development,” she said.
She called for partnerships that would help businesses navigate risks through affordable and personalised financing models, well-structured credit and capacity building.
“We must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and develop solutions that respond to the realities of MSMEs,” Mang’eni said.
Sidian Bank Managing Director and CEO John Okulo said supporting MSMEs remained central to the bank’s purpose and commitment to entrepreneurs.
“Our role is not simply to provide financing. It is to understand the businesses we serve and develop financial solutions that respond to their needs, their stage of growth and the changing market environment,” Okulo said.
He said the partnership would combine financing with business solutions and market linkages to help MSMEs build stronger businesses.
“We want to make finance a catalyst for enterprise development rather than simply a source of capital,” Okulo added.
KIE Managing Director Nelson Kwamini said the partnership would combine financial and non-financial support to address different stages of MSME growth.
“Our collaboration with Sidian Bank will enable us to strengthen the support we provide to MSMEs by combining access to finance with capacity building, training and business development,” Kwamini said.
He said the institutions aimed to create more opportunities for businesses to become sustainable, resilient and competitive.
The partnership is designed to support MSMEs beyond initial financing by helping businesses strengthen their capabilities, access appropriate credit as they grow and connect to wider economic opportunities.