NSE Partners With IFC to Promote Women on Boards

The Nairobi Securities Exchange(NSE) has partnered with International Finance Corporation (IFC), the lending arm of the World Bank, to implement the Kenya Women on Boards and in Business Leadership Program.

This is a transformative three-year initiative that has been running from July 2025 and ends on June 2028. The plan aims at advancing gender parity across Kenya’s capital markets.

Building on the strong commitments made by NSE listed companies to champion gender inclusive leadership in their organizations at the recent CEOs Breakfast Roundtable, the Inaugural Train-the-Trainer (TOT) Sessions kicked off on Tuesday 21st October.

The NSE led 4-day training is designed to build capacity and promote inclusive leadership within listed companies.

The NSE said on its X account that nominated participants across various industries are being equipped to cascade knowledge and skills within their organizations using globally developed Inclusive Leadership for Corporate Sustainability resources by IFC.

The NSE training sessions will address the opportunities and challenges of women’s leadership in middle and senior management, as well as on boards, empowering participants to serve as internal influencers and change agents.

Ambitious Women Calling the Shots in Kenya’s Listed Companies

Kenya’s corporate sector has seen more women taking up positions as Directors or Chairpersons on Boards of leading firms listed at the NSE.

Women leadership in corporate organizations is slowly evolving from a rarity to a common sight as more women occupy executive and boardroom positions in listed firms.

NSE Listed Firms With Female CEOs, Directors Still Below Global Index

The rise of women in top executive positions has been notable, especially across the banking and manufacturing sectors with women such as Diamond Trust Bank CEO Nasim Devji, and East Africa Breweries Limited’s Jane Karuku being the most notable female captains, owing to the size of the firms they are leading.

But while more women are pouring into boardrooms and c-suites, these plum positions are still out of reach compared to global trends.

According to the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, Kenya has a score of 0.689 is ranked 98^th out of 148 economies covered by the Survey. A score of 1 represents the optimal situation.

The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

Kenya is ranked 43^rd in Economic Participation and Opportunity, 138^th in Educational attainment, 64^th in Health and Survival and 86^th in Political Empowerment.

Since launching in 2006, it is the longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing these gaps over time.

In Kenya, Ms Biova Agbokou, the Chairperson of TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya Plc Board of Directors, is the latest women to be appointed to a Board position in a listed firm.