Kenya champions for women’s role in economic development, ensuring that no one is left behind

The Principal Secretary for MSMEs development Susan Mang’eni has reaffirmed the government’ commitment to empowering women through inclusive economic policies and targeted policy interventions aimed at stimulating economic participation of women towards increased jobs and wealth creation. 

The PS, speaking at an interactive dialogue on Inclusive Development, Shared Prosperity, and Decent Work during 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the UN Headquarters, underscored the government’s deliberate efforts to enhance women’s economic participation, particularly in the Micro, Small, and medium enterprises.

The focus of the sixty-ninth session is the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global agenda for achieving gender equality and empowering women and girl. The review includes an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mang’eni emphasized that women’s economic empowerment is not just a social agenda but an economic imperative, positioning women as key drivers of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

"It is believed that if you must NOT leave anyone behind, you take a woman first, and everyone else will come along," she stated, highlighting the critical role women play in unpaid and underpaid Labor, particularly in the care economy.

Kenya has rolled out several affirmative action funds targeting women, youth, and persons with disabilities. For instance, the Women Enterprise Development Fund, the Youth Enterprise Fund, the Uwezo Fund as well as the Hustler Fund initiative, aim to unlock access to affordable credit, especially at the grassroots level, where most women entrepreneurs operate.

The government has also directed policy focus toward agriculture, a sector where women are key players. The government is championing production of priority value chains: Diary, Textile, edible oils, rice, tea which traditionally have been patronized by women creating a guaranteed market for their produces while increasing their income levels as well as food security. 

Additionally, women farmers are benefitting from Government’s subsidized fertilizer, retailing at half price and other farm inputs, as well subsided agricultural mechanization machineries that support them in enhancing their produces.

Mang’eni emphasized the Government’s priorities for future action including expanding youth employment, adaptation and mitigation to climate change initiatives, leveraging technology as well as continuing with the existing efforts to remove barriers to women’s economic participation

"As a government we are committed to Decent Work and Shared Prosperity through programs like The National Safety Net Program (Inua Jamii) currently supports 1.8 million vulnerable households through cash transfers, improving welfare and economic stability. Additionally, the National Care Policy, informed by a Time-Use Survey, quantifies unpaid care work, laying the groundwork for better policy integration’’ noted the PS.

As CSW69 discussions continue, Kenya remains steadfast in championing women’s role in economic development, ensuring that no one is left behind.