Did you know: Dukas supplies 80% of the products in Kenya
By Soko Directory Team / Posted on November 22, 2022 | 10:10 p.m.
Small retail stores, known as Doukas mushroomed in Nairobi. That aside, anyone would admit how handy they are for all of us. It may be that once you forgot that you need to replenish the salt in the house. Or this time you wanted to buy groceries and cornmeal and found them at a one stop shop that has a store and a grocery stand in the front of the store. For years, Dukas has been kept out of critical conversations about ‘small businesses’, even though they play a vital role in the lives of many Kenyans.
According to TechnoServe statistics, Dukas in Kenya provide about 80% of consumer goods and are often run by women or families. They bring products and services closer to consumers and are the only ones known to sometimes give goods on credit to the consumer lowest in the value chain.
Despite the enormous advantages of Dukas in Kenya, they still face many challenges and are unable to operate effectively, which results in lower income for their owners. The challenges were more dominant during the pandemic, not only in our country, but globally. To help Dukas in Nairobi meet these challenges, in partnership with the elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization and the Citi Foundation, TechnoServe has worked to increase the profitability of over 1,000 high-potential stores in Nairobi through to its Smart Duka initiative.
The methodology combines individual in-store consulting, group training, association formation and innovative digital solutions that have enabled them to future-proof their businesses, strengthen the supply chain and play a major role in inclusion digital finance.
Smart Duka tools equip store owners with management skills and business knowledge. They can foster business networks and optimize financial performance, aesthetics, product offerings, and store displays. The project is also exploring convenient digital solutions that allow traders in Nairobi to efficiently manage inventory and make mobile payments.
The program operates on the promise that micro and small enterprises form the backbone of emerging economies and, according to the International Labor Organization, generate around 90% of jobs in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, micro-retail outlets are an essential source of basic goods and services for vulnerable communities and are an essential link in food supply chains.
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