First Lady urges women to seize new economic activities

By Calvin Otieno (KNA)

First Lady, Rachel Ruto, has urged women to harness their collective strength, embrace savings and seize emerging economic opportunities.

This is as the Government steps up investments aimed at transforming livelihoods and empowering women across various sectors of the economy.

Speaking during a women empowerment forum under the Joyful Women Organization at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) grounds in Siaya town, the First Lady said women have the numbers, strength and potential to drive lasting economic transformation if they pool their resources, knowledge and efforts.

“With a shared vision, strength, resources and wisdom, small individual efforts can become a powerful force for lasting change. That is the power I see in women of Siaya County,” she said.

The First Lady said the Government’s commitment to women empowerment is backed by investments designed to break economic barriers and create opportunities for women to establish, grow and sustain businesses.

Among the projects she highlighted were upcoming modern markets, the Sh1 billion blue economy development project at Usenge, Sh100 million investment in fish landing sites at Wichlum Beach and expanded electricity connections targeting thousands of households.

“These are opening opportunities for women to build stronger livelihoods,” the First Lady said.

She stressed that economic empowerment must go beyond direct financial assistance, arguing that giving women access to productive opportunities has a wider impact on households and communities.

“Empowering women economically is not just about putting money in women’s hands, it is about putting opportunities in the hands of an entire family,” she said.

The Government is also implementing interventions in poultry farming in East Ugenya, agricultural value chains and water infrastructure, with the initiatives aimed at strengthening household incomes while easing some of the burdens that disproportionately affect women.

The First Lady challenged women in Siaya to rebuild the momentum of the Joyful Women Organization, recalling the group’s strong performance in 2019 when its activities in the county ranked among the best nationally.

She urged women to embrace saving as a means of building financial resilience and securing their families against economic shocks.

She encouraged them to take advantage of government financing programmes to expand their economic activities.

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