Uasin Gishu Jua Kali artisans secure Sh500 million government contracts

By Ekuwam Sylvester and Brian Seronei (KNA)

Jua Kali artisans in Uasin Gishu County have secured government contracts worth more than Sh500 million through their participation in the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) and Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) markets.

This has boosted business growth, employment and household incomes.

The achievement was highlighted during a review meeting convened by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), in partnership with the State Department for Housing, at the authority's regional offices in Eldoret.

The meeting brought together welders and fabricators from various Jua Kali associations to assess progress in integrating local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into government-funded infrastructure projects through structured subcontracting.

Collins Ngige, Director of MSME Inclusion at the State Department for Housing, commended the artisans for their contribution to the Affordable Housing Programme and called for strategies to sustain their businesses beyond the completion of the projects.

He said the government iss exploring partnerships with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to provide artisans with workshop space where they can manufacture products, earn income and train students in practical skills.

“We have an MoU with TVETs. You can construct on their land and offer opportunities to train students at your large workshops. This is, in essence, sustainability after affordable housing ends,” Ngige said.

He noted that linking artisans with training institutions would provide an additional revenue stream while helping equip young people with marketable technical skills.

MSEA North Rift Regional Director CPA Alton Kogo said local Jua Kali groups had demonstrated their ability to meet quality standards, comply with project requirements and deliver steel, metal and woodwork components on time.

Kogo said the authority had helped coordinate local enterprises to secure contracts worth more than Sh500 million from the State Department for Housing.

He urged beneficiaries to manage their earnings responsibly and reinvest profits to sustain their businesses after the current housing contracts end.

“Do not misuse the capital and the profits you gain from this project, but rather invest to ensure continuity of your income beyond the housing programme,” he said.

Kogo observed that limited access to upfront capital had initially prevented many groups from securing and executing contracts. 

However, earnings from successive local purchase orders (LPOs) had enabled some businesses to expand their operations and improve their financial capacity.

He said reinvesting profits would help enterprises build financial reserves, purchase equipment and independently finance future contracts.

Kogo added that integrating Jua Kali businesses into affordable housing and ESP markets was an important step towards expanding employment, strengthening local manufacturing and promoting economic growth.

He said MSEA would continue supporting MSMEs to access government procurement opportunities, noting that bringing informal businesses into the formal economy also expanded the tax base and strengthened compliance.

During the forum, artisans shared experiences of how government contracts had transformed their businesses and improved their families' livelihoods.