AMFI-K Hosts Inaugural Inclusive Finance Industry Awards, Calls for Stronger MSME Financing

AMFI-K Hosts Inaugural Inclusive Finance Industry Awards, Calls for Stronger MSME Financing

NAIROBI, Kenya — August 14, 2026

The Association of Microfinance Institutions–Kenya (AMFI-K) has called for stronger and more coordinated financing solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as the sector continues to play a central role in Kenya’s economic development.

The call was made during the inaugural Inclusive Finance Industry Awards (IFIA) 2026, held at the Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi, where more than 200 stakeholders from Kenya’s financial services and wider inclusive finance ecosystem gathered to celebrate excellence, innovation and impact.

The event brought together representatives from financial and microfinance institutions, government, regulators, development partners, investors, technology providers and other industry stakeholders.

Speaking at the awards, AMFI-K Chief Executive Officer Caroline Karanja said financial inclusion must go beyond simply providing access to financial services.

“Financial inclusion is not only about access to finance; it is about creating opportunities for individuals, families and enterprises to participate meaningfully in the economy and build more resilient livelihoods,” Karanja said.

She said expanding access to affordable, appropriate and sustainable financial products was critical to enabling MSMEs to grow, create jobs, increase productivity and contribute more significantly to the national economy.

Karanja noted that the inaugural IFIA Awards were established to recognise institutions and individuals using innovation, responsible finance and customer-focused solutions to address the real needs of underserved communities.

The Chief Guest, Susan Mang’eni, Principal Secretary, State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, underscored the critical role of MSMEs in Kenya’s economic development and called for stronger collaboration among financial institutions, government and development partners.

She said coordinated financing solutions were needed to address persistent barriers facing small businesses, including access to capital, affordability and the availability of appropriate financial products.

“Improving access to affordable, appropriate and sustainable finance would be critical to enabling MSMEs to grow, create jobs, increase productivity and contribute more significantly to the national economy,” the Principal Secretary said.

The awards recognised institutions and individuals whose work is expanding meaningful financial inclusion and creating impact in communities across Kenya.

The 2026 awards featured 16 categories covering key areas of the inclusive finance agenda, including digital transformation, SME development, agricultural finance, women’s economic empowerment, youth inclusion, sustainability and ESG, WASH financing and climate resilience.

Categories included MFI of the Year, NDTC of the Year, Best Digital Financial Inclusion Initiative, Best SME Finance Initiative, Best Agricultural Finance Initiative, Best Women Economic Empowerment Initiative, Best Youth and Inclusive Finance Initiative, Best Sustainability, ESG and WASH Initiative, CEO of the Year and the Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.

Karanja said the strong response to the inaugural awards demonstrated growing industry commitment to advancing financial inclusion in Kenya.

“We are particularly encouraged by the strong response to the inaugural Awards, with more than 200 delegates expected and seven sponsors and partners coming on board to support this important industry milestone,” she said.

To safeguard the credibility and integrity of the awards, submissions were evaluated by an independent jury comprising representatives from MicroSave, FSD Kenya and Musyimi & Co. AMFI-K served as the Awards Secretariat, responsible for coordination and administration, but did not participate in scoring or selecting the winners.

Beyond recognising excellence, the inaugural gala provided a platform for networking, industry insights, keynote addresses and knowledge sharing, strengthening collaboration across Kenya’s financial inclusion ecosystem.

The event was supported by seven sponsors and partners, reflecting broad industry backing for initiatives that promote innovation, responsible finance and inclusive economic growth.

AMFI-K said it intends for the Inclusive Finance Industry Awards to become an annual industry platform that recognises excellence, encourages continuous improvement, facilitates knowledge sharing and strengthens collaboration across the country’s financial inclusion ecosystem.

The association said the continued evolution of the awards will also help spotlight emerging priorities and innovative solutions capable of expanding economic opportunities for underserved communities and strengthening the resilience of Kenyan enterprises.