The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industries has urged traders to join them so that they can benefit from loans and development opportunities.
KNCCI Kiambu county chairman Richard Ndung'u said so many traders have missed a lot of chances for learning and growth since they were not members of any traders organisations.
He said his office was work towards ensuing more traders not only get to know about KNCCI but join them.
Ndung’u said the KNCCI in the country will receive Sh1 billion from Mastercard Foundation to be borrowed by traders who are registered members to boost their businesses.
He said the Sh1 billion is part of the Sh5 billion the Foundation had promised to loan them for the next five years from 2023.
“I urge traders to register and take advantage of these funds so that they can grow their businesses both in the short and long run,” he said.
"Traders are very important pillars in the society who need a lot of support. We feel bad when we get funding, get trained and some of us are left out.”
However, Ndung'u said he was optimistic the economy will start recovering since the rains are here.
The official said KNCCI will continue urging traders to join them, since members are trained on businesses management tips before they are given loans.
At the same time, traders have asked banks and other money lending institutions to keep evaluating their loan application laws since they are normally affected by world market.
Samson Ng'ang'a, a trader, urged banks to give some of them more time to repay their loans owing to the escalating of goods prices.
"At times one may acquire a loan and use it to stock your shop or an enterprise, but just before you start repaying it, goods prices rise and you end up at a loss. We are urging the banks to consider that," he said.
