A total of 40 Turkana Chamber Members have benefited from Business Ethics training through the collaboration between Center for International Private Enterprise and Turkana County Chamber.
The two days training majored on the significance of compliance to the set rules and policies as a basis of business success.
According to M.s Grace Nzou, the lead trainer, the decision to train traders on matters ethics has been necessitated by the challenges that traders have always gone through as a result of non- compliance with the various set regulations.
” The government has laid very clear regulations and policies on how businesses should be conducted. On the contrary, some businesses have never taken issues relating to tax and human resource policies seriously. With that, they find themselves on the wrong side of the law and end up paying huge penalties and fines which may lead to the collapse of businesses”, said Ms Nzou.
The training also incorporated other components including Ethical Customer management, Financial Accounting, best approaches to Human Resource Issues as well as better ways to bridge existing gaps in business.
As a long term measure to nurture the trained traders, Mr. Seth Isoka who was also a trainer and the CEO for West Pokot Chamber noted that the beneficiaries will go through a one-year mentorship under Turkana Compliance Club.
Apart from the intensive learning sessions, the traders had the opportunity to showcase their products and services and build linkages that will ultimately impact their businesses positively.
Upon completion of the training, the trainers took a deliberate effort to visit some business premises to get guidance on digital marketing strategies that can be harnessed to promote their businesses.
Chairperson for Women in Business in Turkana Chamber M.s Elizabeth Lokolio appreciated the collaboration and support that CIPE has given Turkana Chamber that has seen more traders benefiting.
“This particular training has been unique. It has incorporated all the important components that most of our traders here were not exposed to. We are very grateful for that”, said Lokolio.
While appreciating CIPE and Chamber for the learning opportunity, Christine Areng from Aredena Honey Producers Group called for more support in Marketing.
” We are honey producers but our main challenge is that we have not been certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards. That has limited our chances to sell products to bigger shops, supermarkets or even export. We call on the chamber, County Government and other stakeholders to support us obtain the required certifications so that we can reach bigger markets”, said Areng.