Samchi Group CEO Esther Muchemi: “The Real Jobs Are in MSMEs”
0
0
Nairobi, June 23, 2025 — Samchi Group CEO Esther Muchemi has delivered a bold message to Kenya’s youth and policymakers: if you’re looking for real job creation, look to MSMEs and the service sector—not just white-collar offices.
Prompted by a Gen Z panel discussion on TV, Muchemi set out to understand where Kenya’s jobs are actually coming from. Her conclusion: the service economy and MSMEs are driving employment, not big corporates alone.
She highlighted Safaricom’s M-Pesa network as a prime example—creating thousands of livelihoods indirectly through agents, dealers, and small shop owners.
But the biggest revelation? Kenya’s service sector—including teachers, retailers, health workers, hoteliers, and wholesalers—employs more people than any other industry. Meanwhile, MSMEs are the true engine of economic survival for millions of Kenyans.
“If we want to create more jobs, we must support MSMEs. That’s where the opportunity is,” Muchemi emphasized.
Her remarks serve as a wake-up call to shift focus from formal employment narratives to where the real hustle is happening: grassroots entrepreneurship.
As the founder of Samchi Group and a longtime champion of small businesses, Muchemi continues to advocate for policies and investments that empower everyday enterprises—the lifeline of Kenya’s economy.
About The Author
