Kiambu: The government has announced a major expansion of the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) following a high-level women empowerment forum held at Kiambu National Polytechnic, Kiambu County, bringing together more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs, senior government officials, and stakeholders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the forum marked a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen women’s participation in economic development under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). It also served as a platform to highlight achievements, address operational challenges, and outline the next phase of growth for the Fund.
A key highlight of the event was the disbursement of Sh38.6 million to 80 women’s groups, benefiting 867 entrepreneurs from across Kiambu County. The funding is expected to support businesses in agriculture, trade, manufacturing, and service sectors, contributing to job creation and improved household incomes.
Gender, Culture and Children Services CS Hanna Cheptumo stated that women remain central to Kenya’s economic progress, noting their significant role in operating small and micro-enterprises and food production. However, she pointed out that women face barriers such as limited access to credit, structured markets, and business networks, which impede economic growth.
Cheptumo highlighted Kiambu County as a national leader in the uptake and repayment of WEF loans, citing strong financial discipline among women entrepreneurs. She noted that the government plans to increase funding to both existing and emerging women’s groups in the county, believing more can be done to support these initiatives.
The CS announced plans to increase WEF funding from Sh6 billion to at least Sh10 billion by 2027, aiming to expand the Fund’s reach and impact. She also called for addressing delays in loan processing and disbursement, stressing the importance of timely credit access for business growth and sustainability.
Additionally, Cheptumo emphasized the need for collaboration between national and county governments to ensure WEF services reach women in all regions, including remote areas.
WEF Advisory Board Chairperson Dr. Jane Lang’at acknowledged the Fund’s progress since its inception, with over Sh28 billion disbursed to more than 2.2 million women entrepreneurs across all 290 constituencies. Nevertheless, she identified challenges in reaching rural women and simplifying application processes to make the Fund more accessible.
Lang’at outlined key priorities for the Fund, including expanding outreach at the county level, improving products and services, and strengthening linkages between credit access and market access. The forum also offered business training sessions on financial literacy, value addition, digital entrepreneurship, and compliance with Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
Beneficiaries shared their experiences, highlighting how WEF support has transformed their livelihoods. Pauline Wambui from Thika Town ventured into real estate development using WEF loans, while Anastassia Ikonya from Kabete expanded her tailoring business, creating employment in her community.
Women beneficiaries were encouraged to maintain strong repayment discipline to sustain the revolving fund and allow more entrepreneurs to benefit. The Kiambu forum is part of a nationwide outreach program aimed at bringing WEF services closer to communities and strengthening engagement with grassroots women entrepreneurs.
As the event concluded, the government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women as key drivers of economic growth, recognizing that empowering women contributes to stronger families, resilient communities, and overall national development.
