Success Stories

More than 50+ MSMEs in Homa Bay and Nyamira county had Structural challenges such as limited access to reliable digital infrastructure, lack of awareness of e-commerce regulations, experienced weak adoption of e-payment systems, and minimal technical capacity that hindered them from leveraging digital platforms effectively. Additionally, the entrepreneurs cited, trust deficits among consumers and traders, compounded by gender disparities and environmental vulnerabilities, further restricted the ability of MSMEs especially those in peri urban, rural and underserved regions to scale through cross boarder and digital trade. To successfully curb this menace and enhance regional integration, increase export opportunities, and ensure MSMEs can contribute meaningfully to Africa’s digital economy, The Pan-African e- Commerce Initiative (PeCI), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ),in partnership with Live Your Dream Enterprises trained 50+ MSMEs on Cross border Trade and e-Commerce in Homa Bay and Nyamira County successfully. Most MSMEs in Nyamira and Homa Bay traditionally rely on local markets which hinders their growth and economic sustainability. Through this Capacity Building training the entrepreneurs will successfully open up access to larger regional markets like Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. This will in turn increases their customer base, diversifies income streams and reduces dependency on limited local demand. For example, one of our MSMEs, George Mogaka the founder of Geez Farming focuses on Banana Plantation can now sell dried banana or handmade crafts and reach customers in Kampala or Rwanda through online platforms or regional distributors. Another MSME who was in the training, Florence Akama- a representative of COW Community Project with their key focus on Peanut plantation, can enhance the visibility of their products by showcasing them on platforms like: WhatsApp Business, Facebook Marketplace, or Jumia which allows MSMEs to showcase their products beyond their physical location. With more visibility comes: Greater brand recognition, more competitive pricing and Trust-building through professional presentation. Some of their business included, manufacturing and selling of fruit juice, production of Timber, NGO Business Development Services and a key focus on Banana Plantation. Other entrepreneurs like Yusuf Oduor Founder of The NGO Growth Blue Print, successfully created a website just after the training, and he says: The training on Cross-Border Trade was transformative. The facilitators simplified complex concepts with clarity and real- world application. I particularly valued the focus on enhancing online presence for African businesses. The knowledge gained will directly inform how I scale our services regionally. I’m excited to implement these strategies and support more grassroots NGOs to adopt more sustainable strategies. With this transformative capacity building training, Live Your Dream Enterprises in partnership with GIZ has not only created successful pathways for Economic sustainability in Kenya and beyond but also driven economic empowerment by creating access to regional and digital markets, promoting inclusive, sustainable growth, building globally aware and locally rooted entrepreneurs. Understanding that sustainable growth requires ongoing support, Live Your Dream Enterprises Ltd conducted a roll out virtual mentorship and coaching sessions, with dedicated Q&A segments, that helped the entrepreneurs ask more questions in arears that were not clear enough, deepen their understanding and strengthen their growth as Entrepreneurs. The success in Homa Bay and Nyamira county training wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to GIZ, represented by Jeniffer Chiku, for her support and seeing the potential in empowering local enterprises. Special thanks also go to our passionate trainers - Edna Onyach, Otieno Paul Peter Esq, Anthonia Mutunga, and the various stakeholders and ecosystem enablers who contributed their time and expertise to make this program a resounding success. By equipping MSMEs with tools for cross-border trade and digital readiness, we are building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is resilient, sustainable, and ready for regional and global markets. Together, we are Empowering sustainable and impactful enterprises!