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One option of empowering women economically is by funding female-owned businesses. In Kenya, women, the youth, and the disabled are exposed to funding opportunities such as The National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, and Uwezo Fund. 

Uwezo Fund is a flagship program for vision 2030 aimed at enabling women, youth, and persons with disabilities access finances to promote businesses and enterprises at the constituency level. The fund launched by Former President Uhuru Kenyatta September 8, 2013, enhances economic growth by eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and promoting gender equality and women empowerment. 

Since inception, the Uwezo Fund has disbursed more than Sh7.2 billion and directly supported over one million beneficiaries including 69  percent of women and 31 percent of men.

Loans are accessible in all 290 constituencies in Kenya. Women, youth, and people with disability are encouraged to apply by following these steps:

1. Group must be registered with the relevant government body such as the Department of Social Services, Cooperatives, or the Registrar of Societies body with a valid group registration certificate.
2. Youth groups must be 70 percent youth aged between 18-35 years and leadership, 100 percent youth.  Women groups should be made up of women aged 18 years and above comprising 70 percent women, and 100 percent women in leadership. Persons with Disabilities, members should be 70 percent PWDs, and 100 percent PWDs in leadership. Also liable are registered institutions that have listed youth, women, and PWDs groups within them.
3. Groups must be based and operational at the constituency where they seek to make an application. Please note that the applicant group applies for the loan from the constituency, is appraised, and is recommended for funding by the respective Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee (CUFMCs).
4. Groups must operate a table banking structure or any other group fund structure where members make monthly contributions according to the groups’ internal guidelines. Evidence of monthly contributions is a requirement.
5. Groups must hold a bank account in the name of the group.
6. Fill an application form from the respective Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee office or download the application form from the Uwezo Fund website. 
7. Submit the application form and relevant documents to the Constituency Uwezo Fund Management Committee office and wait for feedback. 

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Wahu, who recently had a baby clapped back at her critics who accused her of piling on some weight, saying,

“Sure I, have added a lot of weight…22.5kgs to be exact actually, for those who know me, I always add weight when pregnant. with Tumiso I added 27kgs,” she said. 

What puzzled the singer more was the fact that the majority of her body shamers were in fact, women. 

“Unfortunately, many of these were by women. These were overtaken by an overwhelming number of +ve comments, again, the majority being by women,” she said. 

Unpurtubed by the negativity, the award-winning singer used this moment to reach out and encourage other victims of body shaming. 

“To anyone who has ever been body shamed,  remember, what the shamers say is not a reflection of you … it’s really a reflection of the quality of person they are…so don’t take it their negativity to heart,” she said. 

Body shaming or fat shaming is the act or practice of negatively judging someone based on their physical appearance. There’s not enough data on the numbers but celebrities, politicians, and public personalities especially women exposed to the limelight and are often affected more. In Kenya for instance, politicians like Esther Passaris and Millicent Omanga have been subjects of body-shaming and online harassment. 

In February 2021, Wahu came to the defense of  Former State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena when she was bullied by  Kenyans on Twitter.

“Such a shame to see people, more so women body shaming a woman especially after she’s just given birth… We can do better guys… let’s be better,” she said.

Other women who have been body-shamed include Nyawira Mumenya (Miss Nyawi), an Award-winning content creator; publisher of the blog Curves With Style. The style influencer and Sharon ‘Shazz’ Nderitu, a plus-size model and body positivity ambassador, shared their experiences with Queenter Mbori on Her Standards. 

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For Susan, a trained lawyer, being in the limelight is not a new thing. In 2005 she became Miss Earth as a teenager and since then, her stardom has been unstoppable. Currently, she is one of Kenya’s leading, youngest Beauty-preneurs, CEO of Posh Palace, Polish cosmetics, and Polished by the Posh Palace.

Speaking on Her Standards, Kaittany said hard work and humility have put her ahead of the game.

“Women get judged a lot. How we should be, how you should behave yet, the people who judge you don’t know you. The truth is women can be everything but you probably have to work five times harder,” she told Queenter Mbori, TV host of Her Standards.

Coming from a humble background, Susan learned business apprenticeship from her mother, a former teacher. Mother and daughter have sold everything in and out of Nairobi including popcorn and crips.

“There’s no shame in being an entrepreneur. You are a literal beggar,” she said adding, “I have begged, but once you know the customer is the boss, you lay low.”

Susan urges women to be their own cheerleaders. “Don’t expect claps at the start of your business because it is a very lonely journey. You really have to be determined, ignore the haters, and march forward.” 

To young women getting into the business – Start already. “All you need is a dream, resilience, and grit,” said Susan, Woman of Impact Award 2019 winner, Women in Business Kenya Awards.

The first episode of ‘Real House Wives of Nairobi’ (RHO Nairobi) officially airs on 23, February 2023 on Showmax. 

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According to her parents, Sam and Grace Muturi, Muthoni met her death on Saturday, November 12 when she visited her boyfriend at Onyonka Estate, one last time to iron out issues. 

She promised not to stay for long but Muthoni’s mother was woken by a phone call at around 2.30am. After she picked, there was no response on the other end. The worried mother looked for her daughter for two days before resorting to visit her boyfriend’s house.

“I tried calling her phone, but no one picked up, and the next time I tried, her phone was off, this time, I drove there and found policemen at the boyfriend’s house,” she said.

The body of their daughter was lying in a pool of blood on the sofa. She had multiple stab wounds and her boyfriend was missing from the crime scene. 

By the time of going to press, the prime suspect in the murder of Naneu Muthoni Muturi, Thomas Mbugua Muthee was still at large. 

“It is wrong for the young people to harm each other over differences. If you are in a relationship that is not stable, just walk away because you can’t force a person to love you,” Muthoni’s father said.

The two had been in a relationship for one year, and according to her mother, things were not okay.

“She once came home with a bloodshot eye but when I asked her what happened, she hid the cause of the injury, and blamed it on shampoo,” she said.

40 percent of women have been exposed to abuse from the opposite sex

GBV is a silent pandemic that affects anyone regardless of their geographical location, socio-economic background, race, religion, sexuality, or gender identity. About 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence. 

In Kenya, 40 percent of women have been exposed to abuse from the opposite sex. In a lifetime, 70 percent of women will have been abused. In Kenya, nearly 1 in 10 men have experienced some form of GBV.

Despite the prevalence, GBV is largely under-reported because of stigma and lack of access to resources and support systems.

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Robai, a student at Kenya Medical Training College Kitale, simply  loves dancing for fun, especially to cheer up the patients. 

“The inspiration is very natural, not driven by anything. I have a program called Project Transformational Dance Ministries where I dance in the hospital when administering drugs to my patients,” she says.

Robai, an orphan, was raised by a single mother, who died a year before she sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Since then, Kinyago Secondary School has supported her education through a scholarship programme. She has never met her father. 

Having grown up through hardship, Robai derives joy from being part of people’s everyday lives. 

“I wanted to be a medical practitioner because I love taking care of the sick. I have never thought of any other career,” she said.Following her kind gesture, the student nurse met Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya who has offered to clear her tuition fees and a promise of employment upon completion of studies. 

Meanwhile, Simon Kanu of Bonfire Adventures is giving the nurse an all expenses 3-days paid trip to Mombasa.

“Looking for this Nurse for her to get a 3 days Mombasa package courtesy of Bonfire Adventures. We should respect our medical practitioners; nurses, Clinical officers, Doctors, pharmacists, phycologists, nutritionists and many others. Your job is a calling. You are just the best. Hats off to you,” Kabu wrote on social media.

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Resila is the second woman to hold the spokesperson position at Kenya’s Police Service after  Zipporah Mboroki who served in the position in 2014 before she was replaced by Charles Owino.

Resila is a Senior Superintendent of Police and until her appointment was the Deputy Director of Planning at the Office of the Inspector General of Police.

Resila made history last year when she became the first female police officer in the history of the National Police Service to earn a Doctorate degree.  She earned her PhD and MPhil in Criminal Justice from the Graduate Center /John Jay College of Criminal Justice-The City University of New York (CUNY), USA under the CUNY Graduate Center Doctorate Fellowship. 

She has a Masters of Science Degree in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, under Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program. 

Until August 2021 she was a Criminal Intelligence Officer on contract at the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

She graduated from Moi University in Kenya with her first degree in Education before joining the National Police Service in the year 2003. Her  initial police training was at the then Kenya Police College Kiganjo in 2003 where she emerged the Best Overall Female Recruit, bagging the prestigious Cane of Honor awarded by the Head of State. 

An expert in Policing, Peace, Conflict and Security, Dr. Resila is a Military Observer trained at the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre in Finland and a trained Sex Crimes Investigator by the International Law Enforcement Academy, Botswana.

Her academic research work has focused more on Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice, Gender Issues in Policing and Peace Support Operations, Crimes against Children, and Terrorism within East Africa.

Resila, an alumni of Lwak Girls High School and Ogeya Primary School has in the past urged girls to embrace careers in police service. 

“Girls should not shy away from joining the National Police Service as the Service offers various opportunities for female officers,” she said. 

On her recent appointment, she has vowed to deliver, while seeking support of all stakeholders. 

“We will deliver with your support and all stakeholders. We are set and need your support,” she said.

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On Sunday November 6, she took the new ride for prayers and blessings at Kingdom Aflame Ministries in Bomet. 

“I am glad they took part in praying for the new vehicle as I  intend to use it for official duties that benefit the locals of Bomet County,” she said.

News of a new ride has received mixed reactions from Kenyans on social media with some congratulating her while others are accusing her of having priorities mixed up.

One user wrote: “Your focus is on buying vehicles and building mansions instead of legislation, the job you lied to the electorate you’d be doing.”

“We thank God for lifting you and your family, you are an inspiration to our young girls,” said another user.

Also in the comments section were jobseekers looking for an opportunity to chauffeur the youthful MP and people reminding her not to forget the bodaboda rider who helped her campaign when she had limited finances. 

Grass-to-grace 

Toto, hails from Chemulal, Bomet County and is the third born child to Leonard Lang’at and Betty Lang’at. Hers is the true definition of a grass-to-grace success story. 

In a recent trip to Rwanda for the Youth Connect Africa Summit, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently called her one of the miracles in our country. 

“I came with one of the miracles in our country, a little young girl, 24 years old and was elected as the Woman Rep of Bomet county defeating a mature experienced woman,” he said. 

Before politics, she survived on odd jobs, worked as a house help, selling mitumba and roadside chips. Toto holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement ( 2021) from Tharaka Nithi University. 

Linet was elected to the 13th Parliament in Kenya under the United Democratic Party (UDA) winning the seat with a resounding 242,775 votes against 8 candidates. Her closest opponent was Dr Alice Milgo who garnered 43180 votes in the August 9 elections.

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Constitutional activist Salesio Thuranira, a.k.a ‘Omtatah’ filed the petition on October 27 to impeach Kawira over alleged abuse of office and gross misconduct. According to Thuranira, Kawira has broken the law on several grounds:

Firstly, by retaining Rufus Miriti as the County Secretary, she went against section 44 of the County Governments Act which states that the county secretary should be competitively appointed and approved by the county assembly.

In the same breath, Thuranira is arguing that the appointment of Francis Mungai as the Meru County Revenue Board General Manager was done contrary to section six of the Meru Revenue Board Act, 2014 which establishes that such appointments must undergo a competitive process and shall be subject to the approval by the County Assembly.

Similarly, the governor is accused of appointing Robert Murega Rimbera Baichu as  Patron of Meru Youth Service and Hustlers Ambassador. Baichu is the governor’s husband. He has been on the spot for participating  in official county meetings, yet he is not a state officer. 

Other allegations include employing her relatives  in various county positions. The situation is worsened by the fact that Governor Kawira and Members of Meru County Assembly currently do not see eye to eye. 

According to the Meru Assembly Clerk Jacob Kirari, the petition is being studied by the legal team to establish its validity. 

Before politics, she operated a chain of hardware business

Bishop Kawira Mwangaza is not new in Kenya’s political scene. In 2013, she vied for Buuri Constituency Parliamentary seat. Even though she was not elected, luck would shine on her In 2017 when she became Woman Representative of Meru County and in August 2022, she became Governor for Meru County in an election that saw Kenya record the highest number of female governors. 

Kawira  holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Kampala International University, Bachelor of Arts in Transformational Leadership from Pan African University and a Certificate in Human Resources from Makerere University.

Before joining politics, she operated a successful cake-baking business and a chain of  hardware around the upper Eastern. She is also the brains behind Baite TV,  the first Kimeru station known. 

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