Effects of Interventions on Medium Small and Microenterprises: A Study of the Western Region in Kenya

To promote youth employment and entrepreneurship, the 2Jiajiri Program; a component of the broader Young Africa Works (YAW) initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The program sought to create dignified and sustainable work opportunities for youth aged 18–35 by equipping them with vocational, entrepreneurial, and financial management skills, The Research objectives was Improved management, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship capacity, Enhanced MSME formalization, productivity, and profitability. Increased access to credit and financial products for institutions. Strengthened mentorship culture and local enterprise support networks. Creation of new employment opportunities within the target counties and Enhanced participation of women and youth in enterprise development. The research was anchored on the ILO–SIYB methodology, which emphasized practical, participant-centered learning tailored to micro and small enterprises. The researcher approach integrated adult learning principles, participatory facilitation, and continuous feedback mechanisms to enhance skill retention and behavior change among participants.  Findings was that out of the total enumerated MSMEs, 1,334 (71%) were female-led, while 541 (29%) were male-led. 91.7 had attained secondary and higher Education. (86%) MSMEs had operated Business for 1–5 years. 260 (14%) had been in business for 6–10 years. Tax/ compliant: 675 (32%), Holding business licenses: 1,203 (58%) Non-compliant: 209 (10%) Small enterprises (< Ksh. 500,000 turnover) (93%)Medium enterprises (Ksh. 500,000–5 million): 115 (6%) and Large enterprises (> Ksh. 5 million): 10 (1%) Area 1: study key recommendations were Strengthening Financial Readiness & Access to Finance, Institutionalize Credit-Readiness Clinics at Branch Level, Develop Tiered Loan Products Tailored to MSME Maturity Levels, Enhancing Business Management Capacity & Continuous Learning, Extend Mentorship Duration and Introduce a “Post-Mentorship Check-In Cycle, Improving Operational Efficiency, Compliance & Formalization and establish a Compliance Support Desk in the Bank Strengthening Digital Literacy, Marketing & Market Positioning and Introduce Market-Linkage and Branding Clinics and  Conduct a Longitudinal Impact .