2014 has undoubtedly been a remarkable year in terms of the advancement of women’s economic empowerment globally. Starting with the renowned World Economic Forum on Africa held in May 2014 where gender inequality was identified as one of the key threats facing the continent, the focus on women’s economic empowerment as a key driver of national development has gained much credence. The emergence of the concept of gender capitalism is proof of the recognition of the pivotal role that women continue to play in economic development. It is apparent that investing with a gender lens can create financial and social impact by increasing women’s access to capital, promoting workplace equity, and creating products and services that improve the lives of women and girls.

In line with these developments and in pursuit of our mandate to empower women in business to grow and excel, we have kept abreast with our external environment, had our fingers strongly on the pulse of women’s entrepreneurship and developed programmes that would help catapult women to be significant actors in national, regional and global development.

2014 has been a defining year for us and our members. From successfully advocating for the inclusion of women in the Public Procurement and Disposal Amendment Bill to drafting supplementary amendments to this Bill that parliament adopted en masse and training 224 women, KAWBO has curved a niche for itself as an authoritative and relevant player in economic empowerment matters.

As we come to the close of 2014, we reflect on our achievements with pride and look forward to even greater success in 2015. We would like to be of greater service to our members in 2015 and we eagerly look forward to working closely with them.

Happy Holidays.

New Members

We are very honoured to welcome the following ladies who joined KAWBO in the course of the year:                        

Jane Wanjiru Muigai                 Patricia Ndegwa

Jennifer Musyimi                       Rachael Macharia

Lois Mbugua                               Rahab Gichohi

Mary Warigia                              Winnie Ngumi

Fridah Memeu                            Nyakeru Murage                                            

Welcome to the KAWBO Family!

'If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable -each segment distinct.'(Letty Cottin Pogrebin)

Call for KAWBO Committee membership

KAWBO offers members the opportunity to become members of one of our active and dedicated committees. Make the most of it by getting involved and shaping your association. Join now

KAWBO has designed a national campaign Imarisha Biashara which was launched in October 2013. The initiative is aimed at promoting access for women entrepreneurs to government contracts in Kenya.  In matters of public procurement, the needs of business women in Kenya are clear:

• They need to understand the Public Procurement and Disposal (Preference and Reservations Regulations) of 2011 and the opportunities these regulations provide.
• They need to learn the skills that will allow them to competititvely position themselves to obtain contracts and effectively do business with the Government of Kenya.

KAWBO has taken upon itself to translate all the intricacies of the Procurement Act for the public.  To date we have trained 702 women entrepreneurs across the country.

Please contribute to our fundraising drive!

The purpose of this drive is to scale up our Imarisha Biashara Bidder Training program to allow us to equip women entrepreneurs across the country with the skills to competitively bid for government contracts.

We have launched a crowdfunding fund drive on indiegogo.com and M-Changa.com

The campaign runs to January 24th 2015

The Public Procurement and Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2013.

KAWBO, through the Imarisha Biashara Campaign, has been advocating for greater participation of women in Public Procurement. 

We are greatly pleased to report that On Thursday 24, April 2014 KAWBO proposed amendments to the Public Procurement and Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2013 were adopted and passed in totality.These amendments focused on issues of great concern to women, youth and persons with disabilities 

We are very encouraged to know that;

1) The amended Bill seeks to entrench in law the requirement that 30% of all government procurement is reserved for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

2) The amended Bill ensures that procuring entities implement the Preference and Reservations Regulations and provide disaggregated data to the Authority to indicate the number of disadvantaged groups that have benefitted.

We commend the National Assembly and the Senate, for their continued effort on this matter and call for the President to assent to the bill and have the law operational as soon as possible.

The enactment of the Public Procurement and Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2013 emboldens KAWBO's Imarisha Biashara Campaign. KAWBO will continue to monitor the implementation of the affirmative action provisions by procuring entities at both the National and County levels. KAWBO will also continue to work closely with implementing institutions, particularly in the county governments to increase uptake of the 30% reservation.

Watch video on Imarisha Biashara Bidder Training program.

The  Imarisha Biashara: Bidder training program aims to equip women enterprenuers with the skills that allow them to competitively position themselves to obtain contracts and effectively do business with the Government of Kenya.

Because government regualtions can be difficult to navigate, KAWBO through the Imarisha Bidder Training program, has taken upon itself to translayter all the intricacies of the Procurement Act for the public. This program has been the main avenue through which Kenyan women entrepreneurs have received clear, simple information from business advocates, trainers and lawyers who have themselves been part of the policy creation with the government.

Since the inception of the campaign, we have trained a total of 702 women entrepreneurs across the country. This year we have trained 224 women entrepreneurs in Nairobi, Machakos and Nyeri Counties.

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).

KAWBO recognizes that women are creating businesses at a greater rate compared to their male counterparts and therefore need programs that empower them to manage and lead successful businesses in Africa.

In light of this, KAWBO has partnered with CEIBS, a top ranked business school well known for its executive education courses, to launch their Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership for Africa (WELA) Program in Kenya. The WELA program includes a trip to China, where participants will receive coaching from and network with successful Chinese women entrepreneurs.

To know more about gaining admission to this highly competitive program read more.

INNOVATION NORWAY

Innovation Norway is the Norwegian government’s official trade representative abroad.

It recently set up base in East Africa and aims to assist Norwegian businesses grow and find new markets by forming meaningful partnerships with businesses in East Africa.

Given KAWBO’s commitment towards empowering women in business to grow and excel, this long term partnership with Innovation Norway seeks to promote future opportunities for women entrepreneurs to acquire investments, skills and technology, broaden their networks and learn from and network with fellow entrepreneurs in the same field.

To know more about Innovation Norway go here

JAN 12, 2015:    Deadline: Call to Join KAWBO Committees

JAN 14, 2015:    Membership Committe Meeting

FEB 4, 2015:      Power Breakfast 

Did you know that roughly 1/3 of the Small and Medium enterprises in emerging markets are owned by women? Read more