SMEs resilience

Such inspiring message this;

Early each morning, women (mostly middle aged and a few elderly) display their products, vegetables of difference types, on  sacks (laid on the bare ground) eagerly awaiting buyers.

As they wait, they also busily measure the vegetables packing them into retail sizes mostly going for between sh 10 & sh 20.

Many of the women appear hopeful and confident and even jovial and not perturbed at all by what others may regard as a tough situation and reality. May Yaweh God almighty continue blessing the works of their hands.

In the western side of Nairobi City County, most of them display and sell their products at Kawangware just near Alingo Plaza and next to Co-op Bank, ‘Ungwaru’ branch. They make haste to sell before human traffic builds up and since they know that they sell outside otherwise formal businesses that have right of way in front of the businesses shops.

Often, especially on weekends when human traffic is low, they are advised to move away from ‘their’ make shift business premises by security officers on request of the formal businesses.

Recently, another group of the resilient women have found space at Kangemi at the bus stage opposite Equity Bank branch and also opposite the towards – Uthiru- bus stage and old market. Here they apparently work with equal zeal, diligence and determination.

They work hard and hastily to dispose off of their products possibly to head back to their homes to perform other duties evidently because they leave their homes and families in the wee hours of the morning and also possibly to book products for the next morning.

The women are also aware that their highly perishable products need to moved fast before the sun gets hot and burns the products to less freshness or before dust settles on the same and spoils them during the very hot and dry seasons.

During the wet season such as the one we are currently in, the onset of a downpour would greatly inconvenience them and also put their health in danger.

I believe one their prayers items to God is for Him to hold the rains a bit until they have sold and surely enough God can do that.

The entrepreneurs are also conscious to the fact that human traffic increases, as the day to wears off further posing the challenge of their spaces getting more hostile.

Such is the resilience and commitment and determination seen in most of our SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises) spaces and especially in businesses operated by women.

This resilience and determination greatly astounds me and reminds me of the undying of the spirit of the human beings heart.

Every time I observe the efforts of our SMEs people, I wish the authorities concerned both at the national government, especially the state department for SMEs & cooperatives and the concerned departments in county governments, would engage such entrepreneurs more in order to support their determination and initiative…

Yet hope still abounds as long as the entrepreneurs realize that they have a noble and God given duty to live and fend for their families… 🙏🏿🙏🏿