This year’s WIB Awards saw several Kenyan women in business honored for strides made in different sectors. The awards exist to celebrate exceptional women in business for their socioeconomic contribution and impact.
Awardees were women from the private and informal sectors, and business owners who have achieved their success by overcoming limiting norms and challenges. Mercy Mulilu of Devine Collections was named business owner of the year.
The awards also featured men who have made it easier for women to grow and thrive in the ever-diversifying economy. The Impact Award went to Hosea Kiili – the CEO, County Pension Fund for coming up with best tailored female product among corporate entities.
Their were other categories recognizing women and companies that have demonstrated support for women-owned enterprises directly or indirectly. The occasion was graced by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru as well as KEPSA chair Flora Mutahi.
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“50% of MSMEs are run by women and only 5% of these women have prior or ongoing business training skills… as women in business our main goal should be mentoring fellow women as a way of bridging the gender gap that exists in the world of business,” Waiguru stated.
“What is the structure of your success? If you were to do it over again and share this structure of success with the next woman and generation, what would be the secret sauce that we can articulate, replicate and scale. Understanding and sharing this honest structure of your success story is very crucial in our collective progress as women,” she posed.
Mary Muthoni, President of Women in Business-Kenya applauded the Government for creating the hustlers fund, stating that it would support many of their members.
“Our very clear mandate as Women In Business Kenya is money, markets and mentorship… we are very keen on how women can access finance, markets and mentorship, she stated.
Muthoni also urged women to register their businesses to ensure they benefit from opportunities around them from government, private sector, development partners, financial institutions and global donor/grant funding.
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