Empowerment
Vihiga County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Tourism and Industrialisation Joseph Lunani has challenged women to embrace entrepreneurship.
Mr Lunani argued that the women had for a long time, been marginalized and hence should take advantage of the prevailing favourable conditions to empower themselves economically. The CECM stated that they should go for financial support from the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to venture into income generating activities.
Speaking during a Vihiga County ‘Women in Business’ forum organised by the local chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Lunani encouraged them to practice agribusiness as well as venture into other business activities.
Dr Billy Nyoje, the Vihiga County KNCCI chairman, said they are readily available to offer capacity building and credit to the residents and at the same time safeguard the interests of the business people. He said they take a keen interest in women as they play an important role in the households and are the pillars that support the communities.
“It has often been said that empowering women is equivalent to empowering communities and that is exactly what we are doing,” asserted he. He stated that KNCCI has been sponsoring women entrepreneurs to showcase their products at the national and international expos in order to access the market.
The smallholder agriprenuers were encouraged to aggregate their products to be able to attract bulk buyers. Participants at the forum had an opportunity to interact and establish networks that would enable them to share information relating to their businesses.