Over 300 women across the country have been welcomed into the construction and manufacturing sector following their successful training by the Buildher foundation.
The Women Fundis in Construction Foundation (WFiCC) dubbed Buildher is designed for female gender in all fields and positions within the construction industry that provides for them a platform to network, learn and share ideas.
The theme of the conference reads: “Lead yourself, build your network and champion inclusivity in the construction sector”.
Speaking during the conference in Nairobi, Buildher Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tatu Gatere said she was honoured to witness the experiences, journeys and stories of Women Fundis in Construction.
“It has taken Buildher three and half years to get to this moment and over the past three years we have been focused on giving vulnerable women access to high quality technical training, enabling women artisans to connect to skilled job opportunities in construction and manufacturing,” said Gatere.
She added that the training supports women artisans to do three key things including bridging the skilled labour shortage that is currently faced in the construction and manufacturing industry in Kenya, allowing women to build financially stable pathways out of poverty through access to high-value jobs and an empowerment approach that allows women to grow a sustainable capacity to contribute and participate equally in key sectors of the economy.
“Today marks a new chapter for Buildher, our Alumni and our partners as we take a step to move the conversation and our focus towards the future and acknowledge hundreds of women artisans stepping into the construction and manufacturing sector,” noted Gatere.
She further added that Buildher and its partners enables structural change so that many women can focus less on fighting bias and instead have the support to focus their skills, energy and zeal in growing value and share their experiences and resources to support and build each other.
National Construction Authority (NCA) Manager training and capacity building, Architect Juliet Kabere, highlighted that NCA undertakes registering constructors, supervisors, project managers among others, capacity building, continuous technical development programme, advisory, research and innovation and many others.
Nairobi County Deputy Governor James Njoroge advised the women to do what they feel naturally works for them, realise their potential and use it and guarantee them that the government will support every hustle.
He encouraged them to take the learnings Buildher offers to them and shape them into business ideas and urged them to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the organisation’s partners.
County First Ladies Association (CFLA) represented by their chair and Marsabit Governor’s wife Mrs Alamitu Guyo, Vice chair and Migori Governor’s wife Mrs Agnes Ayako, Kisumu Governor’s wife Mrs Dorothy Nyong’o and Nyamira Governor’s wife, Mrs Emily Nyaribo acknowledged the work Buildher is doing adding that they are looking forward to benefit from the programme in their counties and promised to support them and spread awareness about them in their remote areas.
By Edna Okoth and Irene Mwende
