NCBA has strengthened its commitment to accelerating the growth of Kenya’s SME sector with the graduation of 24 entrepreneurs who successfully completed the Strathmore Business School (SBS) Enterprise Development Programme.
The 2025 cohort comprises business owners from key economic sectors, including manufacturing, retail, agribusiness, construction, logistics, and professional services. The programme continues to attract ambitious entrepreneurs eager to sharpen their leadership capabilities and scale their enterprises sustainably.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dennis Njau, Group Director – Retail Banking, congratulated the graduands and reaffirmed NCBA’s dedication to supporting the SME community.
“We believe that when entrepreneurs grow, the country grows. This programme equips our customers with practical knowledge, confidence, and partnerships that enable them to take bold steps in their businesses. NCBA remains committed to walking this journey with them through capacity building and strong financial solutions.”
The Enterprise Development Programme is a flagship component of NCBA’s SME strategy, designed to equip business owners with leadership skills and practical tools to drive growth. The 16-week programme blends academic learning with hands-on coaching and covers financial management, operations, marketing, innovation, leadership, and digital transformation. Participants also benefit from peer learning, networking, and exposure to real-market insights.
To date, the programme has delivered measurable impact to more than 300 NCBA customers.
Njau also highlighted NCBA’s expanding ecosystem of SME support, anchored by strategic partnerships with the Africa Guarantee Fund, AFAWA, Water.org, and Proparco. These collaborations enhance access to credit, reduce risk, and support entrepreneurs in areas such as women-led business development, climate resilience, and water and sanitation financing. They further strengthen NCBA’s ability to lend effectively to growth-ready SMEs.
Strathmore Business School commended the strong collaboration with NCBA, reiterating its commitment to providing practical learning experiences that address real-world business challenges and contribute to a thriving SME sector.
NCBA continues to welcome applications for upcoming cohorts of the Enterprise Development Programme. Interested business owners must be NCBA customers with an active business account (minimum six months), operate a business that has been in existence for at least two years, employ at least three staff members, and have an annual turnover of at least KES 3 million. Applicants must also be the primary decision-makers in their businesses.
NCBA and Strathmore Business School further collaborate through the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Centre, offering additional initiatives such as the Owner Manager Programme, business boot camps, networking forums, trade expos, and industry conferences—all designed to empower SMEs and MSMEs to grow sustainably and confidently.