7.Isiolo

Isiolo is gradually climbing to the top position among the top 10 best towns for small businesses in Kenya. Currently, the town dominates the Central and Upper Eastern business environment with its eyes set on a future plan that will see it assume the role of Kenya’s premier resort city. Isiolo is also at the heart of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. Early this year, the desert town saw the entry of its eight commercial bank as financial institutions rush to book a space in the city of the future. As a businessman, it’s not hard to see how bright the future of Isiolo is. The World Bank once ranked Isiolo as the second easiest place to start a business after Thika town. The town was however reported as the least favorable place to register property.

6.Mombasa

Despite the Mombasa County’s move to raise fees for single business permits, parking fees, advertisements and licenses by more than 100 percent, the coastal city still enjoys broad based business reform programs that attract start-ups to its bounds. Mombasa is one of the lucky few towns in the country to have a specialized court for commercial dispute resolution. According a report by World Bank Mombasa is the best place in Kenya to register property.

The county is a hub of sorts and all major offices including NHIF, Kenya Sea Port and Huduma Center have offices there. Mombasa is served by relatively good infrastructure and deliveries from the capital city of Nairobi are made in less than 24 hours by most courier services. The town and county at large are competitive both nationally and globally.

5.Eldoret

That Eldoret town is growing fast is not in doubt (in fact according to a study a 50×100 plot within Eldoret’s CBD now sells at Ksh100 million as compared to Ksh20million almost five years ago). The speed of the town’s growth coupled by the presence of the Eldoret International Airport provide the tail-wind for growth of a city that suffered badly during the 2007 post election violence. Eldoret was once ranked as the second best place to process construction permits and the 5th best for enforcing contracts according to a report by the World Bank.

Businesses that deal will supply of electronics, stationery and construction materials find the Eldoret market quite attractive.

Must Read: Most Profitable Businesses to Start in Kenya

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