NCBA Partners with KAM to Champion Value Chain Financing
NCBA Partners with KAM to Champion Value Chain Financing
Over 100 industry leaders explore innovative solutions to boost industrial competitiveness.
Rethinking Financing for Industrial Growth
NCBA, in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), hosted a CEOs breakfast forum in Nairobi under the theme “Unlocking Growth in Manufacturing through Value Chain Financing.”
Tirus Mwithiga, NCBA Group Director for Corporate and Investment Banking Advisory, emphasized the need to rethink how capital is structured and delivered across Kenya’s industrial ecosystem.
“Manufacturing currently contributes 7.3% to Kenya’s GDP, far below the 2030 vision target of 20%. This forum reflects our commitment to support manufacturers beyond banking,” he said.
NCBA presented its solutions such as asset leasing, trade finance, and supply chain financing. These offerings help manufacturers manage cash flow and build business sustainability.
The bank also affirmed its role in providing long-term advisory, partnership building, and policy support.
“We’re working with industry bodies, aggregators, and off-takers to fund structures that span entire value chains. This approach reduces risk and drives measurable growth,” added Mwithiga.
He also highlighted the bank’s involvement in public-private dialogue and market research to support informed decision-making.
NCBA Partners with KAM to Champion Value Chain Financing
Addressing Manufacturing Sector Challenges
Kenya’s manufacturing sector employs over 350,000 people directly and supports more than 1.6 million indirectly. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the sector grew by 2.1%, contributing to a 4.9% overall GDP growth in Q1 2025.
Despite its potential, the sector faces limited access to affordable capital, fragmented supply chains, and regional competition.
“When we talk about value chain financing, it’s about making everyone in the chain bankable, from the farmer and transporter to the processor and final manufacturer,” said Tobias Alando, Chief Executive at KAM. “We need financing products that respond to the cyclical nature of manufacturing.”
Alando also called for affordable and long-term financial instruments aligned with production cycles. These would help de-risk investments in primary processing and support businesses of all sizes to expand and stay competitive locally and globally.
The event concluded with a joint call for deeper collaboration among government, financiers, and manufacturers to create a more enabling environment for growth.
