Glovo, a leading technology platform operating across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, has concluded its 2026 Partner Academy series with an inaugural regional session in Nakuru. The workshop convened 50 local entrepreneurs, predominantly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), focusing on operational efficiency, catalog management, and digital marketing tools designed to accelerate commercial growth on on-demand delivery platforms.
Glovo currently partners with more than 6,000 businesses across Kenya, 80% of which are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). In Nakuru, the platform generated over USD 1 million in sales for restaurant and retail partners in 2025, with more than 110 active merchant partners selling on the platform. These figures highlight the growing role of digital platforms in helping local businesses access new customers, expand their reach and unlock additional revenue opportunities.
The contribution of MSMEs extends beyond individual business growth. The sector serves as an essential economic pillar, contributing roughly 34% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employing 15 million citizens, and accounting for nearly 91% of newly generated jobs nationwide. Equipping small enterprises with the capabilities to navigate digital marketplaces remains vital to safeguarding local commerce and expanding customer access beyond traditional storefront boundaries.
Speaking during the session, Yvonne Muthoka, Small and Medium Size Business Lead Category, Glovo Kenya, noted, “Bringing the Partner Academy to Nakuru marks an important progression for our merchant development efforts. Nakuru represents our fastest-growing market outside Nairobi and Mombasa. Through this program, our objective is to provide actionable expertise in catalog optimization, order fulfillment speed, and transit packaging. When neighborhood vendors master these operational fundamentals, they build sustainable operations capable of scaling into prominent regional enterprises.”
Local entrepreneurs attending the workshop emphasized the direct impact of the curriculum on their day-to-day operations. Speaking on behalf of the participating merchant cohort, an attending restaurant owner remarked:
“Operating in Nakuru’s competitive commercial district requires continuous adaptation to changing consumer habits. The sessions offered practical methods to track peak ordering hours, minimize preparation delays, and maintain product quality during delivery. These operational adjustments allow us to connect with customers across wider delivery zones that our walk-in trade could not previously reach.”
Building on earlier cohorts successfully hosted in Nairobi and Mombasa, the Nakuru training marks the completion of the initiative’s 2026 cycle. Looking ahead to 2027, Glovo plans to institutionalize the Partner Academy as a recurring quarterly engagement across additional counties, linking platform analytics directly to local merchant resilience. By integrating regional MSMEs into the formal digital economy, the company continues to support Kenya’s broader economic digitization agenda and strengthen nationwide retail supply chains.
