Policy Brief No. 41 of 2021-2022 on MSEs’ Business Environment in Tharaka Nithi County

Abstract

The County Business Environment for MSEs (CBEM) framework was first developed by KIPPRA in 2019 to provide a tool for monitoringthe process of improving business environment for growth and survival of MSEs. The four areas of focus were worksites and related infrastructure, market environment, technical capacity, and governance and regulatory framework. An improvement has been done to capture emerging issues that affect MSEs business environment. Thus, the CBEM 2022, has additional indicators including, internet connectivity within the worksites, trade participation in market environment and participation in policy and regulatory framework formulation under governance and regulatory framework. Further, two broad areas on financial inclusion and risk preparedness and management are included. This policy brief summarizes the MSEs business environment in Tharaka Nithi County, spotlights the related constraints, and highlights the relevant policy interventions. Theresearch on the CBEM and associated output reported here demonstrate the role of KIPPRA, as a think tank and research intermediary, in fundamentally fostering the interconnectivity of research stakeholders in order to strengthen the research ecosystem in Kenya. This policy brief also exemplifies the role of KIPPRA in promoting research take-up to support the devolved system of government in Kenya