Women in business lobby unveiled

Kenya has joined a new lobby seeking to spearhead the interests of women in business.

The Commonwealth Business Women Network (Kenya Chapter) (CBW-Kenya ) is an affiliate of a platform made of businesswomen from 53 Commonwealth countries.

Josephine Ojiambo, CBW-Kenya Director said Kenyan businesswomen will benefit immensely from a wider market offered by the Commonwealth Network.

“It is what is called the Commonwealth Advantage. It is exciting to see CBW Kenya Chapter launched. The network will support women and help them grow their businesses for the country’s prosperity,” Dr Ojiambo said at the launch in Nairobi yesterday.

“As well as doing trade within and across borders, the network will give women a voice with policymakers to ensure that women entrepreneurship has a better environment and greater practices.”

Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Lisa Stadelbauer said the Kenyan Chapter will focus on 21 sectors aimed at economically empowering women.

“We will work with the rest of the Commonwealth countries across the globe with a big focus on tapping into Africa’s vast resource pool. We will create access to information, markets and finance with partnerships across all Commonwealth countries,” Stadelbauer said.

CBW Africa was launched at the end of 2017 across Africa as a strategic regional partner to Commonwealth businesswomen.

It is geared at economic empowerment and leadership and connecting businesswomen in Africa to the Commonwealth countries. It is the only accredited membership organisation for women's economic empowerment that is recognised by the 54 official Commonwealth governments.

According to CBW-K chair Nana Wanjau, the local chapter seeks to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“Our objective is to create a platform to increase the visibility of women in business in Kenya...,” she said.