Nairobi county gubernatorial aspirant Irungu Nyakera has lauded Kenyan entrepreneurs who have continued to operate despite a challenging economic landscape that saw thousands of firms close or scale down this year.
Speaking on X, Nyakera referenced data from the Business Registration Service (BRS), noting that 2,260 companies formally applied to cease operations in 2025.
He added that numerous other businesses quietly became dormant or reduced their activities, including notable names such as Copia, Sendy, several manufacturing facilities, and multiple retail and distribution firms.
Nyakera urged business owners to take pride in their resilience.
“To every Kenyan entrepreneur who is still standing, congratulations and thank you! Your continued efforts to employ citizens, manufacture goods, and maintain operations are significant in one of the toughest business environments we have seen,” he wrote.
The aspirant also used the festive season to extend encouragement for the year ahead.
“As we celebrate Christmas, I wish every entrepreneur renewed strength and a better 2026. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and keep going,” Nyakera added.
Kenya’s business sector has faced mounting pressures in recent years, including rising operational costs, inflationary trends, and shifts in consumer demand.
According to BRS records, the closure of over 2,000 businesses in a single year reflects the broader challenges confronting the private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that are central to the country’s employment and economic growth.
Nyakera’s remarks highlight the importance of supporting entrepreneurial activity, a recurring theme in national discourse as the government and policymakers seek to bolster economic recovery.
Entrepreneurs’ persistence amid closures is seen as a stabilizing factor for local economies and job creation across the country.
The statement from Nyakera, who is seeking the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, underscores the link between political engagement and economic development, drawing attention to the contribution of private enterprises to Kenya’s broader social and economic stability.