Boon for Laikipia women entrepreneurs after County inks deal with Dutch agency

Women entrepreneurs in Laikipia County have received a boost following a deal between the county and a Dutch agency — SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.

The deal is likely to revolutionise how women do business.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Nanyuki, last week on Wednesday, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation will provide entrepreneurship empowerment programmes to over 50 co-operative business groups in the county.

On its part, the County Government will provide all the critical legislations and policies that will support the businesses.

About 5,000 women are expected to benefit from the five-year programme.

“This programme is a golden opportunity for Laikipia County,” enthused Governor Joshua Irungu shortly before he signed the dealU.

“It will empower women in this county to be productive and thereby boost the economic wellbeing of households and the county at large,” he added.

On his part, Harm Duiker, the SNV Country Director, Kenya, noted that his organisation is interested in supporting women empowerment in the county. He said the deal will leverage on the existing programmes that SNV runs in the country.

The MoU dubbed: “Enhancing Opportunities for Women’s Enterprises (EOWE) in Laikipia County” will rope in enterprises in agriculture, small-to-medium scale manufacturing and handcrafts among others.

The governor announced that his government has set up a raft of funds targeting women enterprises, which will be a major boost to the programme.

“We will support women with initial capital once they have undergone the empowerment programme,” the governor said.

“We have set aside Sh10 million for County Enterprise Fund and Sh20 million for County Cooperative Revolving Fund. We also have Sh10 million for Household Economic Empowerment Proragramme designed for micro-household activities like setting up kitchen gardens and purchase of water tanks. These funds are all geared towards giving women an edge,” said the governor.

He lamented that there are a myriad of barriers that lie on the path of women in doing business as cultural practices, market barriers, lack of information and legislation and policy challenges that require correction.

The governor also announced that he will set aside parcels of land to establish and build business advisory centres.

These Centres, he said, will serve as a one-stop shop for business information where women can gain insights, market information guidance and even mentorship on entrepreneurship.

SNV will establish the advisory centres in all the 12 counties.

“We desire to build women capacities in business ventures, access to financing and access to markets,” explained Sabdiyo Dido, the SNV’s global anager for EOWE.

Enhancing Opportunities for Women’s Enterprises programme seeks to empower women economically in 12 ASAL counties in Kenya and 15 communes in Vietnam.

Other counties targeted include Isiolo, Laikipia, Samburu, Kajiado, Narok, Baringo, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, and Wajir.