Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, has lauded women in Kirinyaga County for their pivotal role in strengthening household economies and boosting rural financial independence through grassroot empowerment initiatives and community-based savings.
Speaking during an economic empowerment event, the First Lady praised the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of local women’s groups, noting that their active participation in agri-business, small-scale trade, and table-banking networks has transformed family livelihoods across the region.
The First Lady emphasized that financial independence among women directly translates to better nutrition, health, and education outcomes for children.
“When you empower a woman economically, you secure the future of the entire household. The women of Kirinyaga have demonstrated that through unity and discipline in financial management, grassroots movements can transform community stability,”
She singled out key local economic activities—including commercial horticulture, poultry farming, and cottage industries—as critical drivers of the county’s growing rural GDP.
Highlighting the success of collaborative financial programs, the First Lady encouraged women across the county to continue leveraging available government funds and local cooperative societies to expand their enterprises.
Local leaders present at the event, including Governor Anne Waiguru, echoed the First Lady’s sentiments, reaffirming the county government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for female entrepreneurs through market access, training, and affordable credit facilities.
The forum concluded with a call for continued investments in value-addition equipment for female farmers, ensuring that women retain higher profits from their agricultural produce before it hits the market.
