Kilifi Women Urged to Embrace Business and Leadership for Economic Empowerment

By Ben Okweingoti 

Women in Kilifi County have been challenged to embrace entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities as a pathway to economic empowerment and self-reliance.

Speaking during the Women’s Day Business Forum held at Nidhamia Hall in Malindi, leaders and business mentors emphasized the need for women to take advantage of the many economic opportunities available to improve their livelihoods and support their families.

The forum, organized by business advisor and poultry farmer Beatrice Furaha, brought together women entrepreneurs from across the county to discuss investment, leadership, networking, and financial empowerment.

Getrude Mbeyu, who was the chief guest at the event, noted that many women, especially in rural areas, still struggle to provide for their families despite the existence of empowerment programs and funding opportunities.

She observed that some women often divert business start-up capital to urgent family needs instead of investing in sustainable income-generating ventures.

“The networking aspect of this forum is very important because it gives women an opportunity to exchange ideas on investment and business growth instead of spending money on things that do not secure their future,” said Mbeyu.

She added that while women groups have continued to benefit from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), there was also a growing need to support individual women entrepreneurs seeking financial empowerment.

“We have the NGAAF program supporting women groups, but we also have women in business who would like support at an individual level. We shall explore ways of helping them within the existing regulations,” she said.

Kilifi County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Livestock Agneta Karembo said the county government under Governor Gideon Mung’aro has continued to empower women economically through livestock programs.

Karembo revealed that the county had distributed more than 6,000 goats and over 600 cows to at least 1,000 women groups across the county, a move she said had significantly improved the lives of beneficiaries.

“Our follow-up assessments have shown that women can transform their lives once they are given the necessary support and opportunities,” she said.

She further noted that cultural and patriarchal practices in parts of Kilifi had historically undermined women and burdened them with overwhelming family responsibilities.

“Many women are abandoned when family challenges such as disease and poverty intensify, leaving them to suffer silently from stress, depression, and other health complications. However, through empowerment and sensitization programs, we are beginning to see positive changes,” she added.

Furaha said the Mother’s Day Business Forum would now become an annual event aimed at celebrating women entrepreneurs while mentoring others to venture into business and leadership.

“As women, we need to unite and support one another through organized forums so that we can uplift each other economically and socially,” she said.

She also urged women entrepreneurs to embrace digital platforms and social media marketing to expand their businesses and access wider markets.

“Business today is largely digital, and social media provides an effective platform for networking and marketing products and services. Very few clients visit physical shops nowadays, and women must remain consistent online to grow their brands,” she said.