On 31st January 2025, KEPSA Foundation hosted the Professional Women Empowered (PROWE) side event during the KEPSA Foundation Inaugural Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Karen Country Club in Nairobi. The event gathered over 50 women CEOs and senior managers from diverse business sectors. The objective was to foster meaningful discussions around career advancement, emerging social issues affecting businesses with a focus on Better Business Practices for Children (BBPC), young women’s employability and career advancement.
In her opening remarks, KEPSA Foundation Executive Director, Ms. Gloria Ndekei, recognized the remarkable work and resilience shown by women in advancing women’s agenda in business. She highlighted the importance of holding such roundtable discussions in addressing challenges faced by women, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities to foster growth. Additionally, she underscored the critical role of male allies in building successful enterprises and encouraged participants to remain grounded in both their personal and professional journeys.
Ms. Ndekei took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of supporting young women in the workplace and urged women leaders to adopt a responsive approach in empowering women of childbearing age. She highlighted the need for balancing careers among young women in employment by advocating for the establishment of lactation spaces for breastfeeding mothers, promoting healthy diets for their families, and nurturing a strong future workforce by prioritizing the well-being of children and their environment.
Later, during the combined high-level CEOs session, Ms. Ndekei also reflected on the journey that led to the Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulation and Control) Bill becoming an Act of Parliament. She acknowledged the pivotal role played by former Attorney General of Kenya, Senior Counsel Professor Githu Muigai, who was present at the forum, in facilitating the bill’s progress. She recalled how KEPSA leaders, including herself and the KEPSA CEO, engaged him during a courtesy call in 2011, a key moment that led to unlocking the bill. The Act now restricts the commercialization of breast milk substitutes, reinforcing the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infant health and development.
KEPSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Carole Kariuki, shared her excitement about the growing opportunities for women in leadership, recognizing the progress made over the years where women have been enabled to progressively take on key leadership roles across various businesses. While acknowledging the challenges women face in accessing such opportunities, she emphasized that having a seat at the table empowers them to shape policies, contribute meaningfully, and build strong support networks. Ms. Kariuki concluded her remarks by underscoring the importance of accountability and collaboration among women in driving sustained progress.
KEPSA SMEs and Startups Director, Ms. Mary Ngechu, delivered an inspiring empowerment talk, emphasizing the role of self-discovery in achieving personal fulfillment and creating a positive impact within the community. Drawing from her own journey, she shared the success of her initiative, Takataka ni Mali, which has created opportunities for numerous SMEs. Ms. Ngechu also pointed out that women often face self-imposed barriers that hinder them from reaching their full potential. She encouraged participants to recognize and overcome these limitations, embrace opportunities with confidence, and step into leadership roles with a mindset of excellence and impact.
KEPSA Security Sector Board Chairperson, Ms. Annette Kimitei, commended the significant strides made by KEPSA and KEPSA Foundation in empowering women and creating leadership opportunities, emphasizing the transformative impact of having confidence in women’s leadership capabilities.
Sharing her personal journey as the Managing Director of SENACA East Africa, Ms. Kimitei recounted her growth in taking over the family business and successfully serving on various boards. Under her leadership, SENACA EA has trained over 24,000 private security personnel in collaboration with the government. She highlighted the company’s strong commitment to championing gender equality and women’s empowerment, earning over 40 awards in the past five years. Notably, SENACA EA became the first security company to establish a lactation station for security staff and introduce maternity wear for its employees.
She also noted a significant increase in female employees within the company, rising from 5% in 2016 to 24% today. While acknowledging the challenges of operating in a male-dominated industry, Ms. Kimitei reaffirmed her commitment to overcoming these obstacles and driving greater inclusivity and success in the security sector.
KEPSA Education, Sports, Arts & Culture, and ICT Director, Ms. Mutheu Kasanga, applauded KEPSA Foundation’s efforts in creating opportunities and platforms for women, such as the PROWE forum, where women in leadership can address challenges and develop actionable solutions. She emphasized the importance of such initiatives in fostering collaboration, advocacy, and meaningful change.
Family Bank Head of Women Banking, Ms. Rose Kamene, highlighted the importance of following one’s passion and maintaining structure in professional life. She encouraged participants to persevere through setbacks, emphasizing that while challenges are inevitable, one must never accept defeat. Passion and resilience, she noted, are essential drivers of success.
Through events like PROWE, KEPSA Foundation under its key pillar on Women, Youth, & Persons with Disabilities Empowerment, Leadership, and Childcare continues to champion its priority of empowering women, promoting gender diversity, and fostering sustainable business practices across sectors.
