SMEs lock out
Stringent certification requirements are locking many small businesses out of lucrative government tenders, denying startups an opportunity to grow despite their role in creating jobs, an expert has said.
Speaking to Capital Business, SME expert and Linkaya Cleaning Services founder Linda Eronjo said while registering a business in Kenya is relatively straightforward, the real challenge begins when young enterprises attempt to bid for public contracts.
According to Eronjo, many government tenders require businesses to produce several years of financial records, operational experience and compliance certifications that startups are often unable to obtain in their early years