WEE Hub at National International Women's Day Celebrations in Embu County - 8th March 2024
The WEE Hub team joined the world in commemorating the International Women's Day yesterday March 8th as is the tradition. This year's national celebration, organized by the State Department for Gender and Affirmative action was held in Embu County.
The event was hosted by the Embu County Government led by Governor of Embu County H.E Cecilly Mbarire and presided over by H.E President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the republic of Kenya and attended by local, national and international political, business and corporate leaders as well as development partners.
The event also featured exhibitions where the UoN WEE Hub women entrepreneurs individual and collectives under the women-focused business incubation project exhibited a range of products produced from the value addition training that they have undertaken. The women entrepreneurs networked and also sold products to the attendees, the event was attended by over 5,000 participants drawn from the county as well as guests.
Highlights of the event include among others;
- Emphasis by the women leadership on the need to address issues of women's economic empowerment in view of the unpaid carework burden.
- H.E President Ruto's pronouncements on the government's three key actions to improve access to business financing ( Affirmative Action Funds) for women entrepreneurs; elimination of requirement of collateral to access WEF funds, reduction of interest rate on WEF loans to 6% and increment of allocations to reach more women entrepreneurs.
- Free access to healthcare
- for persons who are unable to make the minimum contribution of KES 300
- Access to affordable housing.