Nandi entrepreneurs urged to embrace first-world thinking to unlock business opportunities

The 20X Entrepreneur Founder and CEO, Eunice Mburu, said Kenya’s development trajectory requires citizens to shift from a dependency mindset to one grounded in agency, enterprise and contribution.

The session, held under the Chanuka Jipange na Business Opportunities initiative by 20X Entrepreneur, introduced MSMEs to practical tools for spotting business opportunities, adding value to existing enterprises, and adopting financial and entrepreneurial discipline to grow their businesses.

Speaking during the training, 20X Entrepreneur Founder and CEO Eunice Mburu said Kenya’s development trajectory requires citizens to shift from a dependency mindset to one grounded in agency, enterprise and contribution.

“Government is building infrastructure, but citizens must build the businesses that create value around that infrastructure. A First-World Kenya requires First-World citizens,” she said.

Participants said the training challenged them to rethink how they approach innovation, financial discipline and economic participation.

One young trader noted that she previously believed formal employment was the only viable path, but now sees entrepreneurship as a practical alternative. “For me to access a First-World Kenya, I must first change how I think and how I behave. I realised I don’t need much to start. I can begin with what I have,” she said.

Another participant emphasised the role of citizens in complementing government development efforts, questioning the culture of waiting for solutions from politicians.

“As the President is building infrastructure, what are we doing to build businesses along those infrastructures? These things will not be handed to us. We must push ourselves,” he said.

The training also highlighted how understanding government policies can help MSMEs position themselves for opportunities emerging from the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Facilitators explained how value addition, customer experience and discipline in borrowing and repayment can significantly strengthen MSME survival and growth.

Nandi is among the first counties in the 2026 rollout of the Chanuka Jipange na Business Opportunities initiative, which seeks to empower MSMEs, youth and informal sector traders across the country through a blend of mindset transformation, entrepreneurship skills and opportunity mapping.

According to Mburu, the goal of the initiative is to demystify participation in national development by showing citizens that First-World outcomes are not delivered solely by government but require active contribution from entrepreneurs, communities and households.

“A country cannot develop with a Third-World mentality. Our people have talent, creativity and skills. Once they understand their role, they will plug into the opportunities being created,” she said.