Men have been challenged to support their female counterparts willing to engage in business instead of developing cold feet.
Women in Business (WIB), an arm in the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Chairperson Ms. Veronica Mutai allayed fears that whenever women get economically empowered relationships in families grow sour.
Ms. Mutai acknowledged that women are the engines in every society stating that most families where women are empowered experience tremendous growth.
“We are appealing to every husband out there to support and empower his wife in business so that they can boost their income and grow their family,” said Ms. Mutai.
She urged fellow women from all occupations to join groups and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has programmes aimed at looking into the interests of women interested in business.
“We conduct awareness and offer guidance on how one can sustain their business,” stated the WIB chair.
At the same time Meru County KNCCI Chairman Mr. Kennedy Muthinja has appealed to women, youth and people living with disabilities to come out and exploit their potential.
Muthinja noted that no one is born economically stable arguing that they can instead achieve what they wish to become through business.
He however appealed to the county government to consider availing a special kitty for youth to enable them get business start-up capital that has proved to be a factor discouraging many young people from venturing into business.
“We are aware the government has a policy that 30 percent of government tendors should go to youth, women and people living with disabilities but it seems not a reality. Although we do not have specific statistics it is being alleged that most tendors are secured by those who are already empowered,” said Muthinja.
The KNNCI chair urged the Meru County government to upscale the construction of modern kiosks to all towns within the region so as to engage more youth and women in small and medium enterprises.
The one-day forum was aimed at training small and medium enterprise partners in the county on how they can grow their business to even reach the global market.
By Richard Muhambe
