The Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub has launched a Banana Value Addition training program for women’s groups in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties. The two-day launch of the program held on 19th and 20^th April 2023 garnered significant media coverage including leading local television stations, Citizen TV, NTV, and KTN News.

The Banana Value Addition training program aims to train women on different methods of utilizing bananas and will see them trained in the development of 6 specific products which will then be marketed and sold. Groups will also receive training on financial management and proper packaging to enable them to sell directly to supermarkets.

WEE Hub leader Prof. Wanjiku Kabira said the training is historic as it is the first to be launched, adding that another similar program is scheduled to be launched in Turkana soon.

When proven effective, strategies used in incubating women-owned businesses can be sold to government and international bodies for replication, especially since there are few women-specific business incubation models globally.

The event was attended by representatives from the Meru County government, the Women’s Enterprise Fund (WEF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA).