EQUITY IN BUSINESS

Women helped to do e-trade and tendering

Kwale is registering them in groups, connecting Internet, building access roads

In Summary

• Kwale county is working to create a conducive business environment for everyone 

• It is helping women form companies so they can bid for tenders, enter into contracts

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani addresses residents at Miguneni Baptist CDC in Kasemeni ward, Kinango subcounty, on May 7
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani addresses residents at Miguneni Baptist CDC in Kasemeni ward, Kinango subcounty, on May 7
Image: SHABAN OMAR

Kwale is helping women form companies that can bid for government tenders and enter into contracts.

More than 100 women groups have been registered and another 6,000 are in the process, Governor Fatuma Achani said.

"This is a new Kwale, where women have space. And we are creating fair opportunities for everybody to grow socioeconomically. No one will be left behind," she said.

Achani said the county will enable the women's groups to progress from Village Savings and Loans Associations into more recognised institutions that can have access to loans for business expansion and financial growth.

She said the county also provides training and enrols women, youth and PWDs in empowerment programmes.

The governor said her administration wants to enhance resilience and end poverty by empowering and exposing everyone to equal opportunities.

She said her administration is partnering with different stakeholders to help tap into the digital space to better their lives.

One of the companies is the American Tower Corporation, a telecommunications company that is installing Internet services in the county as a way of promoting technology. 

She said already, an Internet mast has been erected at Busho in Mackinnon, and recently, the construction of the Diani FTTT POC project in Msambweni was launched.

It is a 14 Base Transceiver Station site earmarked for connection to the fibre optic cable network that is intended to improve network quality and efficiency by providing an alternative to microwave links that currently provide connectivity between sites.

Achani said the availability of the Internet will play a great role in helping women adapt to the changing trends of technology and venture into research and business activities.

She said the county is spearheading infrastructural development that will help in bettering the lives of women and their undertakings.

Achani said they have constructed good access roads and modern wholesale and fresh produce markets to spur business activities and grow the economy in the region.

She said since many women are involved in agribusiness, the good infrastructure will allow them to have better access to markets and a good business environment.

The second Kwale governor said her administration is as well constructing dams and boreholes to provide water for domestic use and irrigation. 

She said it will enable locals especially women to do subsistence and commercial farming and ease them from the suffering of tarmacking long distances in such of food and water during a drought.

"Having water readily available will make women more productive since they are the most affected when it comes to the dry season," she said.

The governor said the county is installing streetlights to promote a 24-hour economy and security in the region, where women will benefit most since they run small food and fish businesses along the roads.

Last month, while at Kibuyuni village in Lunga-Lunga, Achani promised to promote seaweed farming as part of the efforts to develop the commodity in the fisheries subsector.

She said the seaweed has many opportunities and, once established, can help many women and locals in the sector secure jobs and improve living standards.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani with Woman Representative Fatuma Masito during the women's trade fair in Matuga subcounty in April
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani with Woman Representative Fatuma Masito during the women's trade fair in Matuga subcounty in April
Image: SHABAN OMAR
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