1. Introduction

Kenya Institute of Business Training (KIBT) is an institution under the State Department of the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development which plays a pivotal role in the Kenyan economy.The Institute is mandated to provide Business & Management Development Services to MSMEs and other Interest Groups.

Through the execution of its mandate KIBT has enormously contributed towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through wealth and employment and employment creation among the MSMEs.

2. Background

The Kenya Institute of Business Training (KIBT) was established in 1966 after survey conducted in the year 1965 by the then Ministry of Economic Planning and Development with the assistance of ILO/UNDP. The survey revealed that most of entrepreneurial and managerial activities were the preserve of the European and Asian communities who controlled the economy. The objective of the establishment of the Institute was therefore to train indigenous Kenyans in management and entrepreneurship skills. Prior to 1980, the Institute was known as Management Training and Advisory Centre (MT&AC) and its mandate was to train and develop African managers and entrepreneurs in practical management and business skills.

In 1980 it was renamed Kenya Institute of Business Training (KIBT) and its current mandate is to provide entrepreneurial and management training, business information, counseling services to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) and other interested groups. 

KIBT is currently located at Parklands offices opposite Parklands Sports club.

For KIBT to effectively deliver Business Development Services to target beneficiaries who are spread countrywide, the Institute has seven regional offices in Mombasa, Embu, Garissa, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kakamega and Kisumu.

Mision & Vision

Vision: To Become an Institution of Excellence in Enterprise and Management Development in Kenya and Beyond.

Mission: To provide Business and Management Development Services to MSMEs and other Interest Groups through: Training, Research, Consultancy,Counselling, Extension Services and Business Information for improved performance.

Mandate

To provide Business & Management Development Services to MSMEs and other Interest Groups

Counselling, Extension Services and Business Information for improved performance.

Core Functions

The core functions of KIBT are:-

  • To provide Entrepreneurial Training to MSME operators and other interest groups
  • To provide Counselling and Extension Services to MSME operators
  • Conduct business-based research and consultancy for MSMEs and other stakeholders.
  • To organize tailor-made training programmes for the Institute’s clientele as and when need arises.

Business Development Services Offered

A. Training Programmes

#
Course
Target Group

1
Introduction to Entrepreneurship (level 1)
Aspiring entrepreneurs

2
Effective Business Management  (level 2)
Owners, managers and employees of SMEs

3
Business Growth and Expansion  (level 3)
Owners, managers and employees of SMEs

4
KAIZEN Business Management 
(level 4)
Owners, managers and employees of small industries

5
Generate your Business Ideas (GYBI)
Aspiring entrepreneurs – youth

6
Start and Improve your Business (SIYB)
Owners, managers and employees of SMEs

7
Improve your Business (IYB)
Owners, managers and employees of SMEs

8
Training of Trainers (TOT) on Business Management
Business Development Service (BDS) providers

9
Group Project Management
Group officials and members

10
Business start-up for youth
Aspiring youth entrepreneurs

11
Small Business Management for Women
Women entrepreneurs

12
One Village One Product (OVOP)
Value adding SMEs

13
Project Proposal Writing
Group officials and members

14
Business Plan Development
SME operators, managers and employees

15
Accounting for small business
SME operators, managers and employees

16
Marketing and Sales Management
SME operators, managers and employees

17
Human Resources Management
SME operators, managers and employees

18
Management of Business Finances
SME operators, managers and employees

19
Entrepreneurship Training for Retirees
Employees in both public and private sectors

20
Introduction to Import/Export Business
Owners/managers of firms engaged in Import/Export

21
Tailor-made Training Programmes
Clients with special requests

B. Projects

#
Collaborator
Programme
Aim
Status

1
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Trade Training Program for SME Exporters Phase I & II
To enable participants save on operational costs, increase profits, access financial support, develop improved products and identify new markets.
Project successfully completed in December 2012

2
JICA and Ministry of Industrialization
One Village One Product (OVOP)
To mobilize local communities for commercial utilization of locally available resources for local and international markets
Project successfully completed in December 2014

3
COMESA
Cross Border Training
To Train cross border traders on cross border trade
Project successfully completed in 2011

4
Ministry of Agriculture
Small Holder Horticulture Marketing Programme (SHoMaP
To commercialize domestic horticulture through capacity development of individuals & group entrepreneurs along the domestic horticulture value chains by training them on entrepreneurship, business development, marketing & product development.
Ongoing

Other activities

  • Business Clinics
  • On-site Business Consultancy/li>
  • Follow-up Programmes/li>
  • Research on business related issues/li>
  • Profiling successful entrepreneurs/li>
  • Training Needs Analysis for MSME operators/li>

Future of KIBT

In order to position itself strategically in readiness to serve its clientele more efficiently as a national organization under the current constitutional dispensation that provides for a devolved system of Government, KIBT envisages to undertake the following functions in the near future:-

  • Formulate and review policies on entrepreneurship skills development
  • Monitor, evaluate and regulate the implementation of the entrepreneurship skills development policies.
  • Conduct Business based Research for SMEs and other interest groups.
  • Develop skills upgrading training curricula in:-
    • Wholesaling and Distribution;
    • Government procurement procedures;
    • Informal traders’ procurement ;
    • Business skills upgrading.
  • Develop and conduct Training of Trainers (TOT) programmes for BDS providers.
  • Certify BDS providers and standardize training curricula.
  • Develop guidelines and programmes on business counselling and consultancy for BDS providers
  • To develop and maintain a BDS providers register.
  • Conduct Tailor-made Training Programmes for the Institute’s clientele as and when need arises.
  • Provide in-house certificate and Diploma programmes for local and international students.
  • Develop women entrepreneurship programs to ensure high incidence of entrepreneurial success among women.
  • Develop entrepreneurial culture amongst youth through training, creating linkages, and collaborations with key stakeholders.
  • Create linkages and collaborations with local and international organizations in offering business training programs.
  • In liaison with the county governments, undertake capacity building for informal traders association.
  • Develop incubators and create successful enterprises through partnerships with the private sector in skills transfer, enterprise development, supplier development and marketing opportunities.
  • Operate a data bank on business related issues and a Small Enterprises National Documentation Centre (SENDOC)
  • Establish a tool room for use by SMEs
  • Establish a business Information and Communication Technology centre for use by SMEs
  • In liaison with county governments, develop Centres for Entrepreneurship, which combine technical graduate training and entrepreneurship in the higher education curricula, thus empowering emerging entrepreneurs and unemployed graduates

For further details kindly contact:-
The Director
Kenya Institute of Business Training
P. O. Box 39475-00623
Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone Numbers: 0770 586 168 / 0770 586170 / 0768 574523 / 0780 440 622

E-Mail: kibt.trade@trade.go.ke