Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has lauded women for their central role in transforming communities through agriculture, enterprise, and family care, saying government reforms in the agricultural and enterprise sectors are tailored to empower them.
Speaking after meeting 1,500 grassroots women opinion leaders from Laikipia County, Kindiki emphasized that women are not only caregivers but also key players in boosting agricultural productivity and driving rural businesses.
“Women are the drivers of change, best at multitasking as caregivers of their families but also key drivers of grassroots agricultural productivity and enterprise growth,” the Deputy President said.
He highlighted ongoing government interventions, including subsidized fertilizer and certified seeds, which he said have directly benefited women, who make up the majority of farmers in Kenya.
He added that the construction of fresh produce markets and the government’s support to nano, micro, small and medium enterprises — many of them run by women — are transforming rural economies.
In Laikipia County, Kindiki noted, women farmers and women-led enterprises are already reaping the benefits of improved security in previously insecure areas, as well as infrastructure investments such as fresh produce markets in Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Ilipolei, Wiyumiririe, Kibaba, Posta, Kalali, and Sipili.
The Deputy President also pointed to broader social investments including the Universal Health Insurance Scheme, under which 242,000 Laikipia residents have already registered, and rural electrification projects worth KSh 720 million that will connect 4,000 households and businesses.
“These investments not only support livelihoods but also empower families and communities for the benefit of men and women who want to see a brighter future for their children,” Kindiki stated.
He urged women leaders to remain steadfast in promoting positive values, guiding the youth, and praying for peace, stability, and prosperity in the nation.