Entrepreneur's Corner

NCBA Johari Awards Celebrate Coast Region Partners Driving Trade and Logistics

BY Soko Directory Team · October 7, 2026 09:10 am

NCBA has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting businesses and partners in the Coast region through the annual NCBA Johari Awards, which brought together players from the motor vehicle, insurance, trade, logistics and commercial transport sectors.

The Mombasa celebration highlighted the important role of asset finance in supporting economic activity in a region that serves as a key trade and logistics hub for Kenya. With the movement of goods and people relying heavily on commercial vehicles, machinery and other productive assets, access to financing remains critical for businesses seeking to invest without putting pressure on their immediate cash flows.

Speaking during the event, NCBA Group Director, Asset Finance and Business Solutions, Lennox Mugambi, said asset finance continues to play a significant role in keeping trade moving across the region.

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“Asset finance plays a major role in keeping trade moving, connecting goods to markets and supporting the transport and logistics sector in this region. As Kenya’s leading asset finance bank, NCBA continues to support businesses across key sectors by financing commercial vehicles, equipment, machinery and other productive assets that enable growth and economic participation,” said Mugambi.

For many businesses, acquiring a vehicle, machinery or other productive equipment goes beyond asset ownership. Such investments can help businesses reach more customers, expand operations, create employment and improve livelihoods.

This is particularly important for micro, small and medium enterprises, transport operators and commercial fleet owners, who often have to balance investment needs with day-to-day operating costs. Asset finance provides businesses with an opportunity to acquire and use productive assets while spreading the cost of investment over time rather than making the full payment upfront.

Mombasa’s position at the heart of Kenya’s trade and logistics ecosystem makes access to such financing particularly significant. As the gateway through which a substantial volume of goods enters and leaves the country, the city supports an extensive network of businesses involved in transportation, warehousing, distribution, manufacturing and trade.

Across the Coast region, asset finance supports diverse economic activities, ranging from prime movers transporting cargo from the Port of Mombasa and specialised logistics equipment to manufacturing machinery and cold-chain infrastructure supporting agricultural and fisheries value chains.

The NCBA Johari Awards have grown into an important platform for recognising the businesses and individuals that contribute to the bank’s asset finance ecosystem. The awards celebrate excellence and partnership across the wider mobility, insurance and enterprise value chain.

The Mombasa event forms part of the 2026 NCBA Johari Awards campaign, which is being rolled out across 10 counties. Each region brings a distinct economic story to the celebrations, with the Mombasa edition focusing on trade, logistics and commercial transport financing, sectors that are central to the Coast region’s economy.

This year’s awards are also anchored on sustainability, aligning with NCBA’s Ubuntu philosophy and wider sustainability agenda. As part of the campaign, the bank is incorporating environmental activities, including a national tree-planting initiative, to encourage partners, customers and communities to take collective action towards sustainable growth.

Mugambi said the sustainability focus reflects the need for businesses to consider both economic growth and their wider contribution to society.

“As we celebrate the achievements of our partners and stakeholders, we are also looking ahead at the kind of growth that we want to support in the years to come. Sustainability reminds us that business growth and responsibility go hand in hand. Through tree planting, we are encouraging our partners, customers and communities to take collective action and contribute to a healthier environment and a more sustainable future,” he said.

The 2026 NCBA Johari Awards will recognise more than 150 partners, including regional winners and national champions. The awards bring together businesses and individuals whose work supports Kenya’s mobility, enterprise and broader economic growth.

At the centre of the awards is recognition of the different players who keep the mobility and enterprise ecosystem running. These include vehicle and equipment dealers who connect customers with productive assets, insurance partners who protect those investments, and businesses and entrepreneurs who put the assets to work to create livelihoods, expand their operations and support economic activity.

Through the Johari Awards, NCBA is seeking to recognise these partnerships while highlighting the role of financing in enabling businesses to invest, grow and contribute to Kenya’s economy.