Nyeri county government has disbursed over Sh180 million to women-led businesses to empower them.
The county government established the Nyeri County Women, Youth and Persons With Disability programme in 2018 with the objective of empowering the vulnerable groups.
Under the programme, women, youth and persons with disabilities are trained and provided with support to start or expand their income generating activities.
Since then, the devolved unit has benefited over 2,300 businesses led by women as a way of promoting gender equity.
According to Governor Mutahi Kahiga, women are the backbone of the economy as they are the labourers in their farms despite being the stewards of households, and are credited for ensuring their children access education.
He said gender equity is a central pillar of his administration’s development agenda as it ensures that no one is left behind in growing the economy.
“Gender equity is not only a moral obligation. It is an economic necessity. A society that sidelines half its population cannot hope to achieve inclusive growth, social cohesion, or long- term prosperity.”
He said this while officially opening the Kenyatta University Women’s Economic Empowerment (KU-WEE) Hub Research Dissemination Workshop in Nyeri town.
“We are taking deliberate steps by expanding access to credit, promoting women-led enterprises, reforming our budgeting processes to be gender-inclusive, and investing in skills development and job opportunities for women and girls,” he said.
The county has partnered with Nyeri National Polytechnic to offer certified digital marketing courses for women to seal skills the gap.
As a result, over 500 young women are now running thriving online businesses, tapping into the power of e-commerce, the governor said.
He also cited child care as an economic infrastructure, adding that his county has piloted subsidised childcare centres near markets and government offices to enable young women to engage in their daily activities without worrying about their children.
He noted that the county departments of Health and Economic Planning are working hand-in-hand to develop integrated strategies that support women’s dual roles as earners and caregivers.
“We are therefore investing in accessible reproductive health services, especially for youth and rural populations, workplace policies that support motherhood, including flexible hours, breastfeeding stations and maternity protections.”
He said his administration is also working to eliminate stigma related to young working mothers or those returning to the workforce after delivery.