Kenya

In Kenya, an estimated three million poor families lack access to microfinance and other financial services.

• The life expectancy in Kenya is 53 years old
• Over 19 million Kenyans live on under US $2.50/day
• Unemployment rate is approximately 40 percent
• Per capita income is US $680/year

We have worked with Yehu Microfinance Trust and Small and Micro Enterprise Project (SMEP) as well as the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to reach more of this country’s poor people, especially women.  We provided training in the latest small business best practices for CBK and MFI staff, allowing them to streamline their processes and assist more poor clients.

Kenya also was the first country in Africa to adopt Mifos, our specialized information management system designed especially for microfinance institutions. Jitegemea, with about 4000 clients, has integrated Mifos into its business processes and is now automated. This allows them to spend more time serving poor communities and less time in administrative activities.