Africa’s economic story is often told through the language of GDP, foreign investment, infrastructure and large corporations. Yet a significant part of the continent’s economic activity happens on a much smaller scale, in businesses started and run by women. From food processing and agriculture to retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services and technology, women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are already contributing significantly to Africa’s ec

I went from not having food to making Ksh 12,000 a day.

Amina runs a small restaurant in Kilifi. Her main customers are the men who work at a nearby quarry; they come in tired, dusty, hungry. She knows what they want before they sit down. She has been feeding this community for years, out of a small kitchen she built with her own hands and her own savings. A year ago, that kitchen was everything she had. Today, Amina has expanded. A mud structure now stands alongside the original kitchen, a proper sitting space where her customers

There is a woman in Karanjee, Nairobi, who has been running a grocery stall for years. She opens before the neighborhood wakes. She knows which customers will pay on time and which ones she will have to chase. She knows which days are slow and which days she can restock. She has kept this business alive while still paying school fees and medical bills and the particular mathematics of a household that never quite adds up. Ask her how much profit she made last month. She will

What does poverty actually look like, up close? It looks like a woman who knows exactly what she is capable of, and has nowhere to put it. It looks like potential with no pathway. Intelligence with no invitation. It is not a lack of ambition. It is a lack of access. And then, sometimes, a classroom door opens. Across East Africa, something is shifting. The EASTRIP programme has tracked female TVET graduate employment rising from 51% to 74%. Read that again slowly, not as a st

As Kenya celebrates 63 years of self-governance this Madaraka Day, we reflect on a journey marked by resilience, growth, and the pursuit of greater opportunities for all. At Kianda Foundation, this national celebration carries special significance. Our story began in 1961, before Kenya was declared a republic, and for nearly 65 years we have witnessed the profound transformation of our nation and its people. Madaraka, meaning self-governance and the power to determine one's f

Every day, women across Nairobi and its surrounding areas wake up carrying dreams that deserve more than just encouragement. They carry ideas for businesses, for communities, for futures, but often lack the structured support, practical skills, and safe space needed to bring those dreams to life. If you've been searching for women's entrepreneurship training in Nairobi, you're not alone. And you've found the right place. Fanikisha class in session At the Kianda Foundation, we

In Kenya, a single medical emergency can tip the balance between stability and total destitution for many families. According to the 2025/26 Health Sector Report and the KNBS 2025 Economic Survey, catastrophic health expenditures push over a million Kenyans into poverty each year. Despite the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the high costs of specialized referrals and long-term rehabilitation remain significant challenges. Stephen’s story illustrates this issue v

“Give to gain.”It sounds simple. Almost transactional. But for many women especially our mothers giving has never been about receiving something in return. It has been about love. Duty. Hope. Survival. Across homes, villages, and cities, mothers are the original givers. They give their time waking up before everyone else, sleeping long after the house has gone quiet. They give their energy working in homes, in farms, in markets, in offices, often without pause.They give their

If you have ever held a single coin in your hand, it is easy to underestimate it. A shilling cannot buy much on its own. It feels small. Almost insignificant. But in the hands of a woman in rural or peri-urban Africa, a shilling is rarely just a coin. It is a beginning. A joyful woman counts coins In the quiet dawn of many villages and informal settlements, before the world fully wakes, women are already at work. A mother ties her leso, steps into the morning chill, and count

If you grew up in Kenya and many other parts of Africa, there was a corner on your mum’s leso or kanga where she tied her little savings. Sometimes coins, sometimes folded notes hidden carefully, yet always counted, always watched. That little corner was more than a hiding spot. It was a symbol of hope, resourcefulness, and resilience. A recent FinAccess survey shows that women are more likely than men to use informal savings and loans, with almost 30% of women engaging in in

Is wealth reserved for the formally employed?For those with payslips, pension plans and benefits? Or can a mama mboga arranging sukuma wiki at dawn build wealth?Can the woman selling mitumba under the hot sun build wealth?Can the one frying samosas by the roadside, or delivering milk door to door, ever rise beyond survival? These are not theoretical questions for us. These are the women we meet every week through our Fanikisha trainings at Kianda Foundation. Women with callo

Many see sixty five as an ending, we see it as the start of our golden era. As we enter this year with wisdom, experience, and maturity, our golden era begins. Sixty five years of showing up. Of believing. Of choosing women and girls again and again, even when the road ahead was uncertain. Sixty five years ago, Kianda Foundation began as a quiet act of faith. No grand stages. No loud announcements. Just a simple, courageous belief: that when you educate a woman, you change ev

True empowerment isn't about teaching women how to manage money; they already do that better than anyone. It’s about providing the tools to make that money work as hard as they do.

International Day of Education Since 1961, Kianda Foundation has placed educating women and girls at the very heart of its mission. From primary and secondary education to technical and vocational training, and from business development through our Fanikisha Program to empowering women for economic independence, we believe in education at every level as a powerful catalyst for transformation. But education is more than classrooms and certificates. At Kianda Foundation, what w

Chess is more than just a game; it is a timeless battle of minds, strategy, and foresight. The checkmate tales of chess have fascinated players and enthusiasts for centuries, weaving stories of legendary matches, brilliant moves, and the evolution of tactics. This article delves into the rich history, strategic depth, and cultural impact of chess, offering insights and practical tips for players at all levels. The Origins and Evolution of Checkmate Tales Chess originated over

Happy New Year ! We write to you with hands that have carried many stories and hearts that have learned, again and again, how powerful hope can be. We come to you from a year that asked much of us. A year of quiet courage. Of women who showed up even when resources were thin, when fear whispered loudly, and when the path ahead was not yet clear. A year where impact did not always announce itself with applause, but grew steadily in classrooms, clinics, kitchens, and communitie

A woman and her chicken When a woman steps into her power with training, fair pay, and the freedom to make economic choices, whole communities rise with her. Women’s economic empowerment is not a niche gender issue; it is a development superpower. It fuels poverty reduction, strengthens families, accelerates climate resilience, and makes economies more productive, inclusive and just. At Kianda Foundation, we see this every day: when women are given skills, resources and oppor

True empowerment doesn’t happen in isolation; it grows stronger through partnership. At Kianda Foundation, we’ve witnessed the incredible impact that occurs when institutions open their doors and hearts to community transformation. One such partnership that shone brightly this year was with the Co-operative Bank of Kenya during the Kangemi Fanikisha Cohort . The Role of Co-operative Bank in Community Empowerment Co-operative Bank went beyond financial support; they shared wi

Fanikisha graduates dancing On a bright October morning in Kilifi, the hall at Tewa Training Centre was alive. Drums thumped, laughter rang out, and the air shimmered with the colors of hope. One hundred and fifty-eight women, dressed in red sashes and glowing smiles, had gathered for a moment many never imagined would come: their graduation day. A Journey of Resilience and Hope They came from the villages of Shariani, Mtepeni, and Msumarini, communities rich in resilience an