For years, James Migwe Kiragu ran his dairy farm in Kieni West, Nyeri, relying largely on intuition and experience. Like many smallholder farmers, he managed his enterprise by instinct, estimating expenses, calculating feed costs and hoping there would be a profit at the end of the month. Two weeks after participating in the Empowered Entrepreneurship Training Programme, however, James was beginning to look at his farm differently.

He had recently taken out a KSh 7,000 Hustler Fund loan to purchase hay for his cows. While the loan helped him meet an immediate operational need, James recognised that managing unexpected costs without clear financial records left little room to plan for the farm’s long-term growth. That began to change when he attended a two-day Empowered Entrepreneurship Training Programme organised by the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) for 40 local Hustler Fund beneficiaries in Nyeri County.

The training gave him a new perspective on managing his farm as a business. For the first time, James opened a record-keeping book and began systematically tracking his cash flow, profits and losses. Now, he is looking forward to the end of the month when, for the first time, he will pay himself before paying his workers. More importantly, he will be able to see clearly how his business has performed, understand where his money is going and make better decisions about the future of his dairy enterprise.

For James, the training was more than acquiring a new skill. It was a shift from farming by intuition to managing his dairy business with information, discipline and purpose.

Determined to Learn

Mama Reagan was another highlight of the training. Armed with her three-month-old son, Reagan, on her back, she was always on time, seated and ready to learn. She told me this was the first time Reagan was venturing out into the world, and she was determined not to let motherhood prevent her from pursuing opportunities to grow.

Mama Reagan, a mother of four from Nyeri Central, runs a small business selling avocados and onions. While she is currently on maternity leave, her daughter has taken over the day-to-day running of the business as she cares for her newborn.

Mama Reagan

Through the Empowered Entrepreneurship Training Programme, Mama Reagan learnt the importance of perseverance and, most importantly, how effective communication with customers can help build positive relationships and strengthen a business.

She has already begun thinking about how she will apply these lessons when she returns to work. She has also accessed KSh 9,450 through the Hustler Fund,

She looks forward to returning to her business in October with new lessons, renewed confidence and a fresh determination to grow her enterprise while creating better opportunities for herself and her family.

Building Businesses That Can Grow

James and Mama Reagan are among the 135 entrepreneurs who have taken part in Hustler Fund training across Mombasa, Nyeri and Uasin Gishu. Since launching in June, the pilot project has connected Hustler Fund borrowers with strong repayment records to business growth opportunities through the Tukuze Hub. At Strathmore University, the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) and the Africa Economic Development Hub (AEDH) at Strathmore Business School (SBS) are implementing the initiative jointly.

By bringing together expertise in entrepreneurship, research, innovation and impact measurement, the partners are working to equip entrepreneurs with the practical skills, confidence and support they need to build resilient businesses and create lasting economic impact. The initiative brings together the African Management Institute (AMI) and Six One Communications as delivery partners.

For entrepreneurs like James and Mama Reagan, the impact of the programme is already becoming visible. It is not simply about accessing finance. It is about helping entrepreneurs understand their businesses, make informed decisions and turn small enterprises into more sustainable sources of income and opportunity.

This article is written by Anne Njeri, Communications Officer, Strathmore Energy Research Centre.