Government Commits to Boost Women Enterprise Fund as 867 Kiambu Entrepreneurs Receive KSh 38.6M
By Shadrack Mutai | NAIROBI,
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening women’s economic empowerment, with plans to increase funding to the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) as part of the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking during a Women Empowerment Forum at Kiambu National Polytechnic, Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services Hanna Wendot Cheptumo announced that the Ministry is targeting to raise WEF funding to at least KSh 10 billion by 2027, up from the current KSh 6.05 billion.
The CS said the move is aimed at expanding access to affordable credit and business support services to millions of women entrepreneurs across the country.
“Women are at the heart of our economic future. When they are fully supported, the entire economy performs better,” she said.
During the event, the CS issued cheques worth KSh 38.6 million to 80 women groups comprising 867 members from Kiambu County, a move expected to boost household incomes and expand small businesses.
Women Driving the Economy
Cheptumo noted that women already play a central role in Kenya’s economy, running over half of all micro and small enterprises and producing the majority of the country’s food. However, she acknowledged persistent challenges including limited access to credit, land, markets, and business networks, describing them as “national constraints” that hinder economic growth.
WEF Impact and Reach
Since its establishment, the Women Enterprise Fund has disbursed over KSh 28 billion in loans to more than 2.28 million women across all 290 constituencies. The fund boasts a repayment rate of over 95 percent for manual loans, a показатель the CS said reflects the financial discipline and reliability of women entrepreneurs.
In addition to financing, WEF has provided training and capacity building to over 2 million women, with more than 230,000 benefiting from financial literacy, digital skills, and value addition programmes. Sector-wise, agriculture and value chains account for the largest share of funding at KSh 12.8 billion, followed by MSMEs at KSh 11.8 billion.
Key Reforms and Commitments
The Ministry signaled a renewed push to strengthen the Women Enterprise Fund by scaling up financial allocation, improving efficiency, and widening access. Cheptumo said the government is working to increase funding levels to reach more women while also addressing long-standing delays in loan processing and disbursement, which have in some cases slowed down business operations.
She emphasized that faster turnaround times will ensure women can access funds when they need them most, allowing enterprises to remain stable and grow without interruption. At the same time, the Ministry is seeking to deepen collaboration with county governments to ensure WEF services reach women across all regions, including those in remote and underserved areas.
Call for Accountability and Growth
She urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly by investing in their businesses, maintaining proper records, and adhering to repayment schedules to sustain the revolving fund. At the same time, she challenged government agencies and county authorities to match commitments with delivery, particularly in infrastructure, market access, and procurement opportunities.
Empowerment Beyond Financing
The CS emphasized that access to finance must be complemented by knowledge, skills, and market access to ensure sustainable growth. She encouraged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of WEF training programmes and explore new opportunities, including regional and international markets.
“When women progress, families become more stable. When millions of women progress, the country moves forward with them,” she said. The forum brought together over 1,000 women entrepreneurs, highlighting the growing momentum around women-led enterprise development in Kenya.
