A whistleblower within the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) has expressed growing frustration among participants in the AgriBiz program, which was designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector.
Several SMEs have signed contracts and received grant funding last year, but they have not yet received the promised funds.
The source reports that attempts to reach KCIC officials have been unsuccessful, as many staff members have apparently resigned.
While the KCIC CEO attributed the delay to an ongoing audit, participants feel increasingly suspicious, with some hinting that the funds may have been misappropriated.
Despite acknowledging the delays and citing a lengthy four-year review of the EU and DANIDA-supported program, KCIC’s recent communication did not provide a clear timeline for the release of the funds, leaving entrepreneurs anxious about their futures.
“Good Evening Nyakundi. I would like you to help us unmask the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC). There was a program for AgriBiz—we were incubated from last year.
“A few SMEs were approved for grant funding, we signed the contracts, and up to now, nothing. We have tried reaching out to the officials at KCIC, but most of them have left their jobs.
“We received communications from the CEO for us to wait as they are undergoing an audit, but we feel something fishy is going on. Kindly hide my identity. We would like to know if they wasted our time for nothing. It’s very saddening. Ni kama pesa ilikulwa.”
Via @CNyakundiH
