A specialist 16-week intensive training program has become the new benchmark for Kenyan entrepreneurs looking to scale their operations in an increasingly volatile economic climate.
The Enterprise Development Programme, a high-level collaboration between NCBA Bank and Strathmore Business School, is designed to bridge the gap between small-scale survival and sustainable corporate leadership.
This strategic shift in vocational training reached a new milestone on 2 December 2025, when a cohort of 24 small and medium enterprise (SME) customers officially graduated from the four-month course.
Consequently, the initiative has now supported more than 300 businesses over several years, marking a significant contribution to the local private sector.
While traditional business courses often span years, this 16-week model is specifically engineered for speed and practical application.
Throughout the duration of the course, participants undergo rigorous training in financial management, digital transformation, and marketing.
Furthermore, the program integrates direct coaching intended to sharpen individual business strategies, focusing specifically on the manufacturing, retail, agribusiness, and logistics sectors.
Dennis Njau, NCBA’s Group Director for Retail Banking, emphasised the direct link between local business success and national prosperity.
He noted that the bank “believes that when entrepreneurs grow, the country grows,” adding that the 16-week structure gives customers the “practical knowledge, confidence and partnerships they need to take bold steps in their businesses.”
However, the initiative extends far beyond academic instruction.
To ensure these businesses can actually implement their new strategies, NCBA has built a broader ecosystem of financial support.
Through strategic partnerships with organisations such as the Africa Guarantee Fund, Water.Org, and Proparco, the bank stated it is working to reduce the inherent risks associated with lending to smaller firms.
In addition to these safety nets, the collaboration operates through a dedicated Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Centre at Strathmore.
This partnership delivers a wide suite of secondary initiatives, including business boot camps, trade expos, and the Owner Manager Programme, all aimed at fostering a more resilient SME sector.
Despite the high demand for such training, the journey to joining the program remains rigorous to ensure that only those ready for significant scaling are selected.
To be eligible for future cohorts, applicants must meet a strict set of criteria, including having been in operation for at least two years and holding an active NCBA business account for at least six months.
Furthermore, the business must maintain a minimum of three employees and demonstrate an annual turnover of at least KES 3 million to qualify for the program.
Crucially, the applicants themselves must be the primary decision-makers in their firms, ensuring that the leadership training is applied directly to the heart of the business.
As the 2025 cohort enters the market with these renewed strategies, NCBA has reaffirmed its intention to continue “walking this journey” with entrepreneurs.
The bank is currently inviting eligible business owners to enrol in upcoming sessions, positioning these 16-week educational resources as a cornerstone of its financial solutions for the Kenyan market.