The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has today expressed concern over the low number of women in the manufacturing sector.
This was during the Women in Manufacturing Lower Eastern Region Conference, held in Machakos County.
KAM CEO, Phyllis Wakiaga, called on county governments to ramp up efforts geared towards increasing the participation of women in the sector.
“Women are making strides in steering the country’s economy. Unfortunately, they continue to be marginalized in various sectors of our economy, including manufacturing,” said Wakiaga.
“As such, any conversations around economic development and increasing our competitiveness, must involve them.”
Wakiaga noted that even as KAM’s Women in Manufacturing Programme strives to increase the participation of women in the manufacturing sector, county governments should also to create an enabling environment, by doing away with the barriers that hinder women’s active participation in industry.
These include regulatory overreach, unstable political climate and unfavourable tax policies, which hinder competitiveness and productivity.
Machakos County Chief Officer Dr James Mutunga noted that the County is working towards empowering women in the county economically.
“Through the devolved system of government, we have been able to reach more citizens, through initiatives geared towards driving socio-economic growth. Our focus now, is improving the ease of doing business in Machakos County, by creating linkages between investors and the business community, to spur inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
The conference was held in partnership with Safaricom, Kenya Power, Stima Sacco, Coca Cola and Thika Cloth Mills.
It is the third ofa nationwide series of events, geared towards increasing women’s participation in the manufacturing sector.
