Kabarak University marked a monumental step in industry-academia collaboration today with the official launch of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the Kabarak University–NCBA Bank Business Development Programme.
The high-level launch event was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Henry K. Kiplangat, , and graced by a delegation from NCBA Bank Kenya PLC led by Robert Gatimu Kiboti, Group Director, Commercial & SME Banking. This flagship initiative, spearheaded by the Kabarak University School of Business and Economics, is strategically designed to empower Kenya’s vital Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector.
The essence of this collaboration is crystal clear: to strengthen the growth and sustainability of enterprises run by NCBA’s entrepreneurial customers through comprehensive training. The partnership recognizes that for businesses to thrive, they need more than just access to credit; they require capacity building, financial literacy, and strategic business insight.
The MoU creates a powerful synergy: Kabarak University contributes research and structured learning, while NCBA Bank provides practical market challenges and capital. This ensures the resulting Business Development Programme (BDP) delivers impactful, sustainable innovation rooted in real-world application.
Photo of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Henry K. Kiplangat and Mr. Dennis Njau, Group Director, Retail, NCBA, during the MoU signing launch
The Kabarak University–NCBA Bank BDP is a practically oriented programme, structured to maximize impact for busy business owners.
Key details include:
- The programme will recruit NCBA's MSME clients into exclusive classes, targeting a minimum of 20 participants per cohort.
- The programme will run two cohorts annually, with training commencing every year on the first Wednesday of February and the first Wednesday of July.
- Training for the first cohort will kick off on February 4, 2026.
- A standout feature is the inclusion of Chinese language training. This strategic addition is aimed at empowering NCBA clients to communicate and negotiate directly with Chinese partners without relying on interpreters.
Participants will benefit from peer-to-peer learning, business visits, and networking to gain lifelong skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
This initiative directly supports Kenya’s national development agenda by reinforcing the resilience and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are major drivers of employment and GDP.
For Kabarak University, the BDP aligns perfectly with our mission to provide holistic, quality education founded on Biblical Christian values—education that transforms not just individuals, but the entire community.
“The success of this programme will be measured not only by what the entrepreneurs will learn, but by how they will grow their businesses, how they will flourish, and how their communities will benefit”.
We sincerely thank the leadership of NCBA Bank for their trust and collaborative spirit in realizing this vision. When industry and academia walk hand in hand, we create a powerful force for innovation, opportunity, and a stronger, more resilient Kenya.
