Governor asks Nakuru firms to compete with top players

Nakuru businesses have been asked to benchmark themselves against counterparts from other parts of Kenya through participation in this year’s Top 100 mid-sized companies survey.

Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said it was only through such steps that the businesses would adopt practices and processes that turn them into world-class enterprises.

Mr Mbugua said many businesses across Kenya have been riding on the Top 100 brand for faster growth and urged local businesses to do the same.
Top 100 mid-sized companies is an initiative of the Nation Media Group and consulting firm KPMG. It has a number of heavyweight sponsors including Diamond Trust Bank, Safaricom, UAP Insurance, Sage Pastel, and the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Technology firm Kuza Biashara, Strathmore Business School and research firm Ipsos Synovate are partners in the annual survey. 

The survey has gained acceptance as a major brand builder in the Kenyan market and promised support for Nakuru businesses that participate, said Mr Mbugua.

“The survey has our total support because it is recognising and rewarding the fastest growing firms,” the governor said during the official launch of the survey in Nakuru at the weekend.

READ: Top 100 SMEs survey gets corporate support

This is the second time the Top 100 survey, which was started in 2008, was in Nakuru to mobilise local entrepreneurs. Mr Mbugua said the increasing number of participants makes the survey “the best yardstick for the fast rising mid-sized companies to prove their worth.”

He said that apart from showcasing their successes, information from the survey was critical to policy makers at national and county levels.

Credible yardstick

“Sponsors stand for fairness and integrity in business practices and it is, therefore, important for participating companies to commit themselves to the highest standards of quality and ethics by sticking to the laws of the land,” said Mr Mbugua.

Nakuru has the long term objective of promoting and showcasing trade and investment opportunities to the rest of the world, he said, adding the facilitation of business was top on his agenda.

“We appreciate the contribution that the business community is making in wealth and employment creation and are working towards creating a conducive environment,” said Mr Mbugua.

Rongai Workshop and Transport Company, which has participated in the survey since 2011 said it has realised immense benefits from the survey.

“Whether you are a relatively new business or long established like ourselves, it is often difficult to find a relevant and credible yardstick with which to measure yourself and the Top 100 club is the place to be,” said Rongai Workshop and Transport finance and marketing director Ritu Bahal.

Ms Bahal said businesses should be dynamic to keep ahead of the game.

“Top 100 keeps you on your toes and ensures that you keep abreast with the fast-changing business and economic climate,” she said. Last year, Rongai, which has made footprints in the transport business, finished in position 28.

“The Top 100 status has helped us to grow in the past three years and opened doors for us that were previously inaccessible,” said Ms Bahal.

The next session of business activation event will be in Kisumu and the final results will be released in Nairobi in October.