By Nyakundi Bw’Otwere
Women’s groups across Kenya have been urged to collaborate with the government to ensure economic empowerment reaches the grassroots, where it is most needed.
Speaking during the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) Executive Council Retreat held in Sagana on Wednesday, Susan Mang’eni, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), emphasized the critical role of women in national development.
MYWO, a formidable movement with over 4 million members organized into more than 25,000 groups nationwide, has been identified as a key partner in the government’s grassroots economic empowerment agenda.
“The State Department is committed to working with Maendeleo Ya Wanawake to inform grassroots women of the various economic opportunities available and organize empowerment forums across the country,” said PS Mang’eni.
The retreat focused on reviewing MYWO’s 2025–2029 strategic plan and identifying new avenues for collaboration. PS Mang’eni outlined priority value chains that women can leverage—including leather, dairy, tea, livestock, edible oil, construction, the blue economy, and rice.
She also encouraged women to make use of preferential access to public procurement through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program. These opportunities, she said, would unlock funding options such as the Hustler Fund, which now includes provisions for insurance premium financing and loan collateralization based on borrowers’ repayment histories.
President William Ruto recently hosted MYWO leaders, including National Chairperson Rahab Muiu, at State House Nairobi, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to empowering women. Key focus areas included Universal Health Coverage (UHC), community empowerment, and sustainable water solutions.
“For decades, MYWO has remained a steadfast partner in complementing the government’s efforts. We remain committed to this partnership, ensuring that women, especially at the grassroots, are central to Kenya’s development agenda,” President Ruto said.
Chairperson Muiu outlined several MYWO initiatives aimed at strengthening financial independence among members, notably the promotion of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Mbao Sacco, launched in 2022 during the organization’s 70th anniversary.
Founded in 1952 under the Department of Community Development and Rehabilitation, MYWO has endured challenges ranging from political interference to internal wrangles. A 50th-anniversary publication described a difficult period in the organization’s history as its “dark ages.”
Despite these challenges, MYWO has consistently played a transformative role in community development. At the Sagana meeting, PS Mang’eni reiterated the State Department’s pledge not just to help women grow their businesses, but to empower them to uplift others—through mentorship, employment, and community impact.
“This aligns perfectly with MYWO’s core mission of fostering social and economic empowerment,” she said.
