SHEconomy Summit launched to address barriers facing women entrepreneurs

The summit’s soft launch, held at Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, brought together more than 40 women entrepreneurs, government officials, private sector players, and development partners. The main summit is scheduled for May 28–29 at the Kenya Insurance College.

Speaking at the event, Recolte Project Management Officer Daisy Mumbi highlighted persistent challenges faced by women-led businesses, particularly in accessing and sustaining opportunities within procurement and supply chain systems.

“Women-led businesses are under-supported not just in winning opportunities, but in sustaining them. Whether navigating public procurement frameworks, corporate supplier requirements, or NGO grant processes, women entrepreneurs consistently encounter structural obstacles,” she said.

Contractor Gillian Koech pointed to limited access to information and technical know-how as key factors locking women out of tendering opportunities.

“What does it genuinely take to participate and win in tendering? Why does the system remain opaque to so many capable women? How does one navigate procurement and e-GP systems without guidance?” she posed.

Financial constraints also emerged as a major hurdle. Credit and Risk Officer Lauryn Andete noted that many women entrepreneurs are disqualified due to gaps in documentation and financial preparedness rather than lack of capability.

“Incomplete documentation, weak financial records, poor cash flow planning, and unfamiliarity with trade finance instruments such as bid bonds and performance guarantees are silently disqualifying women across sectors,” she said.

Summit convener and Founder of Recolte Limited, Betty Karimi, emphasised that the initiative is anchored on economic transformation rather than social advocacy.

“We are standing at the edge of a defining economic shift—not a gender conversation or a social campaign, but an economic revolution,” she said.

Karimi added that the SHEconomy initiative is focused on fostering ownership, equity, leadership, and generational wealth among women entrepreneurs.

The summit is being organised in collaboration with key institutions, including the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Kenya Institute of Supplies Management, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to enhance access to markets and financing.

More than 1,000 women entrepreneurs are expected to attend the May summit, which will focus on procurement training, access to finance, networking, and market linkages.