August 2026

As Kenya celebrated Katiba Day on 27th August 2026, we held the third Trust Pre-summit Roundtable themed Building Trust and Restoring the Social Contract Through Constitutionalism, Open Governance, and Effective Public Institutions. The date marked 16 years since the Constitution of Kenya was promulgated in 2010, following a 67% majority vote after a long struggle. Although the constitution was designed to place the citizen at the center, insightful discussions throughout the roundtable grappled with, sixteen years on, is this truly the reality?

During his opening remarks, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University, painted a vivid picture of the events of 1905 when Prince Carl of Denmark was invited by parliament to take the throne of Norway. The prince refused to assume power based solely on a parliamentary invitation, insisting instead on a public referendum to determine if the people truly wanted a monarchy.

In November 1905, the people voted overwhelmingly in favor, and Prince Carl ascended to the throne as King Haakon VII, ruling until his death in 1957. Reflecting on this history alongside examples like Tanzania’s Ujamaa, a socialist framework centred on the community, Dr. Ogutu emphasised that various forms of leadership can succeed, provided the right underlying dynamics are in place. He noted that while a dictatorship might possess seamless systems, it robs people of their fundamental freedoms. We must, however, appreciate that back at home, many of Kenya’s neighbours admire the robust constitutional liberties enjoyed in Kenya today, including the freedoms of speech, movement, and assembly.

Addressing why leaders often lack trust and how that trust can be centered, Dr. Ogutu outlined three essential pillars required for trust to flourish: competence, honesty and benevolence. Leaders must possess the competence to execute their mandates effectively, the honesty to remain truthful and deliver on promises, and the benevolence to act genuinely for the public good rather than personal interest. When a system breaks down, it is typically because one of these pillars has failed, most often due to self-interest overriding benevolence.

This timely roundtable featured an expert panel addressing key governance challenges and systemic failures in public service delivery and how the constitution can amend this trajectory. Dr. Abraham Rugo observed that public participation has largely become meaningless and lost its purpose, as the burden rests disproportionately on citizens rather than state institutions. Citing the Social Health Authority (SHA) as an example we can all relate to, he noted that while some citizens are accessing healthcare services, service providers face severe operational strains due to unpaid claims. To address this imbalance, he argued that the burden of proof must shift from Kenyan citizens to public service institutions.

Building on these structural challenges, Sheila Masinde, Executive Director of Transparency International Kenya, emphasised the importance of allowing public institutions to function autonomously and effectively. She pointed out that governance reforms are stalling primarily because implementation fails to match the pace demanded by the public. Highlighting that public office holders must be held accountable for performance, Masinde underscored that while the Constitution provides a robust framework through the separation of powers and checks and balances, these mechanisms have yet to come to full life 16 years on.

As a Kenyan citizen, I may never meet the President of the Republic of Kenya, but I will meet the teacher teaching in a run-down school, a nurse managing an understocked clinic, and a police officer, beaten by the sun but still needing to protect me as a citizen. The front line, where the citizen meets the worker, is the true gauge of whether public service works in Kenya. When a patient walks into a clinic and gets the care they need, when a student receives quality education without missing lessons and marks, and when a neighbourhood is safe, governance succeeds. If local services work, the system works.

As we concluded, Dr. Ismail Shaiye, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Donor Relations, State Department of Foreign Affairs, shared a deeply personal story that reminded us what being a Kenyan citizen really means. His daughter, despite earning the required grades, was not selected for her dream national medical school program. Dr. Shaiye chose not to wield his influence, opting instead to simply be a parent. His final message to his daughter on the matter was one of quiet reassurance: “God has something better for you, mama.” Indeed, we do not need any more legislature or institutions. We have it all on paper. What we need is to be human and bring back the software that is missing in our lives. Trust.

Could it be that systemic change doesn’t begin in the legislative halls but in the quiet decision of everyday life? Before pointing fingers outward, each of us must look within and ask, “Do I have the missing software? Can I be trusted in my everyday undertakings?”

The Governance and Public Institutions Round Table was convened by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Open Government Partnership and Mzalendo Trust. Strathmore University is proud to serve as a co-convener of the Trust Summit. Be part of the ongoing conversation and register.

This article was written by Anne Njeri Njoroge, Communications Officer, Strathmore Energy Research Centre

When Miss Hope chooses MAC over a local makeup brand, she isn’t just buying foundation, she is purchasing a promise. She trusts that the chemicals are safe, the quality is tested, and the outcome is guaranteed. But why do we inherently trust foreign supply chains we cannot see over local manufacturers in our own backyards here in Kenya? This dilemma framed the Private Sector Roundtable for The Trust Summit 2026 held on 18^th August, organized under the theme “Trust as an Economic Asset: Strengthening Public-Private Dialogue, Regional Economic Cooperation, and Digital Trust for Market Resilience and Sustainable Growth.”

During the round table, Eng. James Mwangi, Board Member of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), emphasized the financial weight felt by investors due to the trust gap in Kenya. “Trust is not a soft value that we invoke when it is convenient,” Mwangi noted. “It sits at the center of our businesses and our government. When trust is in short supply, the cost shows up directly in the numbers, in delayed decisions, friction in transactions, and growth that falls short of its potential.” Ultimately, for the private sector, trust is far from an abstract ideal; it is the ultimate driver of investor confidence and market resilience. During the panel discussion, experts unpacked the broader trust landscape, highlighting the specific gaps and solutions facing entrepreneurs today. A key takeaway was that while “cash is king,” its flow in Kenya is rarely just a financial issue. It is fundamentally a trust issue. When local entrepreneurs supply goods or services on credit, they face mounting uncertainty over whether clients will honor 30 or 45-day payment terms. This breakdown in trust creates a devastating ripple effect: small businesses struggle to pay staff, default on supplier obligations, and fail to service loans, ultimately driving viable enterprises out of business.

Beyond cash flow, regulatory and operational unpredictability further compounds the trust deficit for both local and foreign investors. When setting up operations, business owners often find that the efficiency experienced in year one evaporates by year two, or that promised policy incentives vanish.

From tax regimes to Special Economic Zones, there remains a persistent gap between policy on paper and practice on the site. Nothing captures this reality better than the popular Swahili saying, “Vitu kwa ground ni different”, a stark reminder that until official commitments mirror actualized experiences, trust will remain the missing catalyst for sustainable growth. Prof. XN Iraki of the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Business and Management Sciences painted a compelling vision of how Kenya can build a “Trustconomy”. Institutional trust lays the groundwork for thriving markets, increased investment, and economic resilience which is the foundation for innovation and sustained growth. By strengthening and strategically leveraging our regional economic blocs, we can position Kenya and the broader region to compete effectively on the global stage. Doing business with the government also remains critical for enterprise scaling, making the digital transformation of public systems essential for market trust. To facilitate seamless trade, emphasis was placed on strengthening digital infrastructure such as piloting distributed ledger technology and blockchain between Kenya and international partners.

Integrating trusted digital certificates and linking export-import declarations via smart systems builds reliable data patterns and transparency across sectors. Furthermore, minimizing human interference in public processes is vital to ensuring a neutral playing field; entities like Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) demonstrate how automated, seamless systems build credibility for entrepreneurs. Ultimately, rebuilding this foundation requires cross-sector collaboration. As Jotham Njoroge, Chief of Staff at Strathmore University, reflected, the roundtable underscored that trust cannot be rebuilt in isolation. What emerged clearly from the discussions is that no single actor holds the full picture whether it is government, business, or civil society.Bound together by interconnected challenges, progress demands shedding the insular mentalities that have long kept these sectors apart due to a trust deficit. Crucially, this conversation cannot stop at the institutional level; the general public, as the ultimate recipients of public and private goods, must be brought into the fold as active partners in rebuilding trust.

As the Private Sector Roundtable drew to a close, momentum built toward the main Trust Summit 2026, scheduled for October 21st–23rd. The roundtable was convened as part of the summit journey by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the Institute of Public Finance (IPF), and the State Department for Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs), in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), TradeMark Africa (TMA), and the COMESA Business Council (CBC).

Strathmore University is proud to serve as a co-convener for the Trust Summit 2026. Rebuilding trust requires every voice. Be part of this transformative national conversation by registering your interest today.

This article was written by Anne Njoroge, Communications Officer at the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC).

This week marked the beginning of an exciting journey for entrepreneurs in Mombasa County as the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) launched the Empowered Entrepreneur Training Programme. Held at VOK Social Hall in Nyali and Jambo Village Hotel in Changamwe, the programme brings together Hustler Fund beneficiaries with strong repayment records eager to strengthen their businesses and build a more secure financial future.

More than 40 entrepreneurs are participating in practical, hands-on training designed to equip them with the skills needed to grow sustainable enterprises. Through interactive sessions, participants are developing competencies in cultivating a growth mindset, record keeping, money management, time management, savings culture, goal setting, and business planning. Beyond business knowledge, the programme is encouraging entrepreneurs to rethink how they approach opportunities, challenges, and long-term success.

Among the inspiring entrepreneurs is Balqees Abdulaziz, a village elder and community health promoter in Tononoka. Alongside serving her community, Balqees runs an EX-UK thrift business from her home, selling kitchenware, while also pursuing her studies at a TVET institution.

For Balqees, attending the training was an investment in her future. Before leaving for the sessions, she ensured all customer orders had been fulfilled and entrusted the business to her younger sister.

“I am excited to be here. I would like to expand my business so that I can purchase a whole bale myself instead of depending on others. The lessons have opened my eyes to seeing things differently. The workbook has helped me put my thoughts on paper and given me clarity about my business. Before coming, I cleared all my customer orders and left my business in the hands of my younger sister. When I get home, I’ll go live on TikTok and make the day’s sales.”

Her story reflects the determination of many entrepreneurs who are balancing multiple responsibilities while remaining committed to growing their businesses.

Equally inspiring is Ben Musembi, the proprietor of Bensole, a cobbler business based in Nyali. Through his consistent Hustler Fund loan repayments, Ben has qualified for loans of up to KSh 25,000, repayable within 14 days. His ambition is to increase his working capital so he can purchase 60 shoe soles every Friday and consistently meet growing customer demand.

While access to finance has created new opportunities, Ben believes the training is giving him the tools to make the most of them. One lesson that stood out to him was the importance of proper record-keeping. He recognises that maintaining accurate business records will help him better manage his finances, monitor business performance, make informed decisions, and confidently scale his enterprise.

For Geoffrey Mwanga, a poultry farmer, the programme sparked a different kind of transformation. He realised that poor time management had been one of the biggest obstacles limiting both his productivity and business growth.

Inspired by the training, Geoffrey immediately began applying the principles he had learned. The very next day, he committed to managing his time more intentionally and quickly experienced the benefits of staying organised and keeping to a schedule.

His experience was reflected during the training as entrepreneurs embraced the value of punctuality, demonstrating how small behavioural changes can foster a culture of discipline, accountability, and productivity.

These stories illustrate that entrepreneurship is about far more than access to finance. While the Hustler Fund provides critical capital, consistent loan repayment coupled with practical business training equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence, and discipline needed to turn that capital into lasting success.

The Empowered Entrepreneur Training Programme is delivered through Tukuze Hub, a new growth initiative for Hustler Fund borrowers with strong repayment records. The first phase of the programme ran from 3rd–6th August in Mombasa, where two cohorts of entrepreneurs successfully completed the training. The programme now heads to Nyeri from 11th–14th August, where the third and fourth cohorts will embark on their entrepreneurial growth journey.

We concluded by lighting candles together as a symbol of keeping the fire burning. It was a reminder of Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Luke: “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.” May each person continue to carry this light wherever they go, allowing it to shine brightly and passing it on to others.

At Strathmore University, the initiative is being implemented jointly by the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) and the Africa Economic Development Hub (AEDH) at Strathmore Business School (SBS). By bringing together expertise in entrepreneurship, research, innovation, and impact measurement, the partners aim to equip entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and support needed to build resilient businesses that create lasting economic impact. They are working alongside the African Management Institute (AMI) and Six One Communications to deliver the programme.

This article is written by Anne Njeri, Communications Officer, Strathmore Energy Research Centre