[w_t_payne]

There are a few stories, which I will not recount here, but the main take-home messages are these:

1. Small business fads exist -- everybody seems to try to run the same business at the same time. Somebody gets the idea of importing cars -- and suddenly you have hundreds of copycat businesses -- all importing the exact same make and model of car. A relatively small steer towards e-commerce (If the pioneers are seen to be making money) could trigger a large avalanche of interest. The problem then will be persuading enough people to find distinct and profitable niches so that a sufficient number "stick" and are successful.

2. Technology start-ups require quite a lot more time and energy to be invested before you see returns. Certainly more so than a typical import/export business. Many will be discouraged by this, so the gentle encouragement may be required to help people stick the course. There are a lot of social groups and cooperative savings societies that already exist -- these could probably be used to help reach potential entrepreneurs.

3. A surprising amount of entrepreneurship is driven by middle aged women. These individuals are tremendously busy, and may already be running up to 2 or 3 small businesses (in addition to day jobs) so they may not be able to take on anything as time-intensive as a technology start-up ... but they are definitely movers and shakers in the Kenyan small business sector.

Finally, a caveat: I am also an outsider; my view of the Kenyan economy is filtered through a fairly narrow lens -- (My wife and her family).