Jumia has today unveiled the ‘Jumia Local’ program that will allow Kenyan manufacturers to showcase their ‘Made in Kenya’ products on its website to thousands of customers across the country thus encourage consumption and scalability.

This collaboration between local manufacturers and Jumia will see products under this arrangement featured more prominently on the main Jumia platform and promoted through the e-tailer’s marketing channels. Vendors joining the program will enjoy reduced commissions and receive round-the-clock training and support from Jumia’s vendor management team. Sellers can either store their products in Jumia warehouse or drop-ship once an order is made.

Speaking today at the launch, Jumia Local Project Manager Ms Abigail Bundi, hailed the initiative saying “we believe manufacturing in Kenya brings great benefits to the country. Through this program we seek to support the entrepreneurs who are investing in Kenya by clearly labelling their products, thus giving customers the chance of buying local consciously”

Products currently listed on the ‘Jumia Local’ online shop cut across Fashion, Home and Living, Electronics and consumables among others.

Chandaria Industries, one of Kenya’s leading manufacturer of tissue and hygiene products who has successfully leveraged the Jumia local program to reach more customers countrywide said,

“Jumia has done an amazing job in this market in showing us what E-commerce can do to a business. Time is ripe now for every company to embrace e-commerce as a very effective sales channel in reaching a wider customer base.” Darshan Chandaria, Group CEO, Chandaria Industries.

Other Key brands among the first to list include Bantu shoes, Alladin world of Brands, Tropical Heat, Bata, Darling Hair and many more – all distinctively branded with a “Jumia Local” logo to help customers make their choice

Talking about the impact the opportunity will have for Kenyan businesses, Phyllis Wakiaga, CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers said, “We want to take this program very seriously and work on having as many products listed by the manufacturing sector and encourage a culture of buying Kenyan to build Kenya through Jumia and also use it to brand our local products for the international market.”

Ms Wakiaga further added that the program would work to instil pride in Kenyans to know that it’s important to support what is made locally calling on manufacturers to look at expanding from the typical brick-and-mortar and get into e-commerce.

Pegged on the ‘Buy Kenyan, Build Kenya’ slogan, the Jumia local program is expected to help manufacturers navigate through the complexities of developing nationwide footprint by leveraging the enormous demand for their products while presenting customers with a vast and unique selection of products at reasonable prices.