Women in Kilifi Encouraged to Take Up Leadership and Entrepreneurship Roles

Women in Kilifi County have been challenged to take up business and leadership roles in society as an empowerment tool.

Speaking during the Women’s Day Business Forum that brought together women in business from across the county held at Nidhamia hall in Malindi town, panelists said that there were many opportunities for women to be financially empowered but very few were taking the chances.

Kilifi Women Representative Getrude Mbeyu who was the chief guest at the event organized by Beatrice Furaha said that most women especially in the rural areas were still struggling to take care of their families and that when they got business start up capital, they spend it on family matters instead of investing in business.

“The networking part of this event is the most important because that is where these women will share ideas of investment instead of spending money on things that are not futuristic. We have the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and women groups are taking them up but we also have business women who would like to be supported at individual level yet the fund has rules and we shall see how we will help them,” she said.

The chief officer for agriculture and livestock in Kilifi County Agneta Karembo said that the Gideon Mung’aro led administration has empowered women in livestock keeping by distributing improved animal breeds.

“We have already distributed more than 6,000 goats and more than 600 cows to 1,000 women groups across the county and our follow up has proved that the women can change their lives once they get support,” she said.

She added that the patriarchal Kilifi society had underestimated the power of women and burdened them with family matters that has caused many women to suffer in silence.

“Many women get abandoned especially when issues in the family like diseases, poverty get intense and many suffer depression and other health complications but through empowerment and sensitization, we are recorded improvements,” she said.

Mrs Furaha who is a poultry farmer and business advisor dealing with rural women groups said that she came up with the Mother’s Day Business Forum that will now be an annual event to celebrate women in business and also mentor others to open and run business and also position themselves for leadership roles.

“As women we need to unite and run our matters as a forum so that we can uplift each other. Today we have been enlightened on various issues including access to the Wezesha Fund of Kilifi County and the NGAAF,” she said.

She challenged women in business to take advantage of social media so that they can exploit the social media market.

“Nowadays, business is digital and in social media and it provides enhanced networking since very few clients visit physical shops and I challenge the women to keep consistency on social media to market their products and services,” she said.