“If you had the opportunity to transform the livelihood of young people in Kenya, what would be your focus?” began Mike Mutungi, the Founder and CEO of I Choose Life - Africa.

Interesting to begin a monologue with a question, but a butterfly is not a catfish. So, I sat back, relaxed across from him, and listened, holding out for the pot of words to stew. 

“Well, let me tell you what is mine,” he went on. “The Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises are the engine of Kenya's transformation agenda, contributing about 40% to the GDP of the economy…” he highlighted. 

And yet, matching the skills and ideas of the young people to the right investors has always been an elusive puzzle. 

I remember when I was in high school. Besides the palpitations awakened by adolescent escapades and mischief born of wistful longing, there were the talent festivals and science fairs. 

From halls of bards and thespians to track and field to the crisp papers in contests and symposiums, the young minds were dripping with ideas and desire to change the world. 

Now, allow me to ask, where do the enthusiastic and bright faces go? With most of these ideas shelved in dusty cabinets in dark backrooms, and the talented regulars of the back alley, I guess I should be asking where the wind blows. 

For many, the answer lies not in a lack of talent, but in a lack of opportunity. That is where MSMEs become more than businesses; they become bridges between ideas and livelihoods.

Well, I write my life in letters, and Mike had a little more for me. 

According to Mike, “Out of the 18 million jobs, the MSMEs employ about 15 million.” There, there was the hope, not in back rooms and dark alleys, but building the nation. 

And so, I choose Life Africa, believing that the future of the world is Africa, has been providing opportunities and transforming the lives of 1 million youth every three years. 

For Mike Mutungi, the conference is more than another gathering. It is an opportunity to connect young innovators with investors, policymakers, and mentors who can help transform ideas into enterprises. On September 30, that conversation comes to the University of Nairobi.

“Come interact with us at the Small and Medium (SME’s) Conference,” he says. 

For more information about the Conference, click here.