KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on skills development and enterprise support aimed at Kenya’s automotive and emerging electric mobility (e-mobility) sector.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will support the training of 200 young people—100 drawn from KCB Foundation and 100 from CFAO Mobility Kenya—through technical and vocational programmes at the Toyota Kenya Academy starting in January 2027, according to a statement on the signing. The programme is intended to link technical training with entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion and market access to improve employment and enterprise outcomes.

The partnership will deliver technical and automotive training, including specialised e-mobility programmes, while also supporting youth- and women-owned enterprises operating in the mobility value chain through business incubation, mentorship and financial literacy, the statement said.

The initiative comes as Kenya’s mobility ecosystem expands across conventional automotive services, motorcycle-dependent logistics and transport, and early-stage electrification efforts. Skills gaps—particularly in diagnostics, maintenance, and new drivetrain technologies—have been cited by industry players as a constraint on the sector’s ability to scale, while access to capital and predictable demand remains a key challenge for small businesses and informal operators.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the partnership is structured to respond to shifts in labour market demand. “The future of work is changing rapidly, and partnerships such as this enable us to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to market needs,” Njonjo said. “By combining technical training with entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, access to finance and market linkages, we are creating a pathway for young people and women to build sustainable businesses and secure meaningful employment within the mobility sector.”

Beyond training, the statement indicated that qualifying entrepreneurs will be considered for tailored asset financing solutions covering vehicles, motorcycles and equipment. Participants may also get opportunities to connect with Toyota and CFAO’s supply chain ecosystem, subject to procurement and compliance requirements.

CFAO Kenya Managing Director Akira Wada said the focus is on aligning training with industry requirements as the sector changes. “As the mobility sector continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to prepare young people with the technical competencies required for the future,” Wada said. “Through this partnership, we are investing in talent development, supporting innovation in e-mobility and creating stronger connections between training, industry and employment.”

For Kenya’s labour market, the agreement highlights a growing role for private-sector-led training partnerships that tie classroom instruction to specific industry pathways. If implemented as outlined, the combination of training, enterprise incubation and financing could help formalise segments of the mobility value chain—especially among youth and women-led businesses—while building a workforce prepared for both conventional automotive work and new e-mobility technologies.

The first cohort is scheduled to begin training at the Toyota Kenya Academy in January 2027. The partners did not disclose the programme budget or the selection criteria for trainees and financing, but said the support would be delivered through technical training, entrepreneurship development and linkages to markets and supply chains.

KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on skills development and enterprise support for young people in Kenya’s automotive and emerging e-mobility segment.

The agreement, signed on July 21, 2026 at CFAO offices on Lusaka Road in Nairobi, will support training for 200 young people—100 each from KCB Foundation and CFAO Mobility Kenya—through technical and vocational programmes at the Toyota Kenya Academy beginning in January 2027, according to a statement issued by the partners.

The initiative will combine technical training with entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion initiatives and market access opportunities, as the organisations seek to link skills development with employment and enterprise creation in the mobility sector.

The partnership comes as Kenya’s transport and logistics ecosystem expands and the country records rising interest in electric mobility solutions, including electric motorcycles and vehicles, which are creating demand for new technical skills across maintenance, diagnostics and fleet operations. For lenders and corporate players, the shift has also opened opportunities to structure financing products and supply-chain linkages for small businesses servicing mobility value chains.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KCB Foundation Managing Director Mendi Njonjo said the partnership is intended to align training with changing labour market needs. “The future of work is changing rapidly, and partnerships such as this enable us to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that respond to market needs,” Njonjo said. She added: “By combining technical training with entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, access to finance and market linkages, we are creating a pathway for young people and women to build sustainable businesses and secure meaningful employment within the mobility sector.”

Under the MoU, the organisations said they will jointly deliver technical and automotive training, including specialised programmes in electric mobility. They also plan to support youth- and women-owned enterprises operating within the mobility value chain through business incubation, mentorship and financial literacy programmes.

The partners said qualifying entrepreneurs will be considered for tailored asset financing solutions for vehicles, motorcycles and equipment. They will also have opportunities to connect with Toyota and CFAO’s supply chain ecosystem, “subject to applicable procurement and compliance requirements,” the statement said.

CFAO Kenya Managing Director Akira Wada said the collaboration targets talent development and stronger industry linkages. “As the mobility sector continues to evolve, we have a responsibility to prepare young people with the technical competencies required for the future,” Wada said. “Through this partnership, we are investing in talent development, supporting innovation in e-mobility and creating stronger connections between training, industry and employment.”

For Kenya’s labour market, the programme signals a growing role for private-sector-led training pipelines that connect technical academies with industry. If implemented as outlined, the collaboration could expand the pool of technicians and entrepreneurs able to participate in automotive services and the e-mobility ecosystem, while also increasing demand for structured financing products tied to productive assets such as motorcycles, vehicles and workshop equipment.

The next milestone is the start of training at the Toyota Kenya Academy in January 2027. The partners have not disclosed the financial value of the programme, selection criteria, or how the participants will be distributed across courses, but said the programme will focus on employability and enterprise development within Kenya’s mobility sector.

KCB Foundation has partnered with Hivos, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Somo and United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) to launch the European Union-funded “Tujenge Pamoja” initiative aimed at accelerating Kenya’s transition to a circular green economy.

The programme was launched in Nairobi and will be implemented under the EU SWITCH Africa Green Programme, according to a statement from the partners. It seeks to shift enterprises away from the linear “take–make–dispose” model toward circular approaches anchored on repair, reuse, recycling and resource efficiency.

Under the initiative, the partners said the programme will support 3,200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt sustainable and commercially viable circular business models. It also aims to strengthen 40 Business Support Organizations (BSOs) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to serve as innovation and enterprise development hubs across the country.

The launch comes as Kenya continues to face rising waste management and climate pressures, while MSMEs remain central to employment and economic activity. Circular economy programmes are increasingly being positioned by development partners and private sector institutions as a way to reduce waste while opening new opportunities in recycling, green manufacturing and sustainable services.

Mendi Njonjo, Director at KCB Foundation, said the programme is intended to strengthen MSMEs through financing and skills. “This programme is about economic resilience, dignity and opportunity for millions of Kenyans whose livelihoods depend on MSMEs. By empowering small businesses with green financing, innovation, and skills, we are building enterprises that can compete, create jobs, and drive Kenya’s transition to a more inclusive and circular economy,” Njonjo said during the Nairobi launch.

Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya, said the shift could unlock economic opportunities alongside environmental gains. “The transition to a circular economy is not only an environmental imperative, but also a major economic opportunity for Kenya. Through ‘Tujenge Pamoja’, we are strengthening innovation, supporting MSMEs, creating green jobs, and promoting inclusive growth that leaves no one behind,” Geiger said.

According to the partners, the programme also aims to create green jobs—particularly for women and youth—reduce waste streams and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve access to green financing through catalytic funding mechanisms to help enterprises scale environmentally responsible solutions. The initiative includes a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) focus that prioritises women-led, youth-led and marginalised enterprises.

Key value chains targeted include plastics and packaging, organic waste management through composting and biogas solutions, and sustainable textiles, the statement said.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the initiative signals continued momentum in linking MSME support to climate and resource-efficiency outcomes, with potential downstream effects across waste management, manufacturing inputs and consumer goods. By strengthening business support organisations and TVET institutions, the programme could also influence workforce skills and the availability of advisory services for firms shifting to circular models.

The partners said the initiative aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, and SDG 13 on climate action. Next steps will include rolling out enterprise support and capacity-building activities through participating organisations and training institutions.