WOMEN BUSINESS HUB -KENYA

  The Women Business Hub , an organization dedicated to advancing women’s entrepreneurship, has partnered with INUA VILLAGE SACCO to drive inclusive economic empowerment across Western Kenya. Anchored in the SACCO’s vision of “My Savings, My Prosperity” , the Hub provides women with access to financial services, tailored business development support, and collaborative networks that strengthen resilience and competitiveness. This partnership was showcased during the SACCO Open House , a dynamic forum that brought together women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The event served as a platform for learning and sharing, highlighting how marginalized community members can establish and grow business ventures for sustainable livelihoods. Central to the initiative is the Trade Over Aid (TOA) Model , which shifts communities from dependency to enterprise-driven solutions. Through the Biashara Mashinani Initiative (BMI) , INUA VILLAGE SACCO equips grassroots entrepreneurs w...

The Trade Over Aid (TOA ) Initiative challenges traditional paradigms of dependency by shifting focus from aid to trade . It empowers individuals to become creators of value, job providers, and agents of dignity. For Kisumu , this training marks the beginning of a ripple effect: families strengthened by income, youth inspired by opportunity, and communities uplifted by enterprise. Each certificate is not just a piece of paper—it is a contract with the future, a declaration that these entrepreneurs are ready to transform challenges into ventures and ideas into livelihoods. This group photo captures a moment of transition: from learning to doing, from aspiration to action. It is a visual narrative of empowerment , where ordinary citizens step into extraordinary roles as business pioneers . Through TOA, they are not merely starting businesses; they are rewriting the story of Kisumu—one that replaces aid dependency with trade-driven dignity , resilience, and prosperity.

Ladies and gentlemen, Friends and partners in empowerment, For centuries, we have repeated the proverb: “Don’t give a man a fish; teach him how to fish.” It has guided development, philanthropy, and empowerment efforts across the world. But here at Women Business Hub , we have outlived that saying. We believe it is not enough. Teaching a man how to fish is useful, yes—but it is not sustainable. Because we must ask: Who feeds the fish? What happens when men know how to fish, but the rivers run dry? What happens when the lakes are polluted, or the fish are depleted? Skills alone cannot feed families when ecosystems collapse. That is why we challenge conventional wisdom. We say: The man must be taught more than fishing. He must be taught how to develop a fish pond. He must learn the species of fish, how to breed them, how to protect the ecosystem that sustains them. He must learn to co-exist with fish—not just as a consumer, but as a steward. This is the essence of sustainable...

 Since its launch in 2025, the Trade Over Aid (TOA) Initiative has marked a decisive shift in how communities in Western Kenya region approach resilience and empowerment . In the past, many grassroots households and vulnerable groups were heavily reliant on short-term aid , which often provided immediate relief but did little to build lasting independence. This dependency limited opportunities for self-reliance and left communities exposed to recurring economic shocks . TOA emerged as a response to this challenge, offering a new vision: to replace aid dependency with trade-led empowerment, dignity, and sustainable growth. At present, Women Business Hub has developed a strong collaborative partnership with INUA Village SACCO (IVS) to strengthen the initiative and actively lay the foundations for resilient local economies. The TOA is strengthening productive capacities of women and youth, expanding market access, and integrating local businesses into regional and global value ch...

Trade Over Aid (TOA) is Women Business Hub’s practical pathway from aid-dependency to trade-driven dignity. In Kisumu, TOA is implemented in partnership with Inua Village SACCO (IVS) – Kisumu Branch. Women Business Hub leads community mobilization, mentorship, and enterprise training for young women entrepreneurs and non-binary youth, while IVS provides the regulated financial rails: member onboarding, passbooks, share capital, and safe savings channels via mobile money and in-branch services. This partnership operationalizes TOA’s model: mobilize youth cohorts, help them formalize membership (registration and passbooks), build ownership (share capital), and cultivate continuous savings habits aligned to enterprise goals. The SACCO’s cooperative structure protects member funds and fosters disciplined growth; WBH’s mentorship and market-linkages translate that savings into enterprise resilience and revenue. Participation and gender engagement in TOA (Kisumu, Sep–Dec 2025) Between ...

  For over a decade, Risper Auma walked the streets of Kisumu selling fresh vegetables from a woven basket. Each day began before sunrise, and every coin she earned was carefully tucked away—not just for survival, but for a dream. She envisioned a home of her own, a place where her children could grow up with dignity and stability. Risper Auma joined a local savings and credit cooperative society , where she began contributing small amounts weekly. Through discipline and determination, she built up her savings and eventually qualified for a loan. With that support, she purchased a modest piece of land and began building her home—brick by brick, hope by hope. Today, Risper Auma stands proudly in her garden, feeding chickens beside the house she built. Her children are thriving in school, with graduation just around the corner. But Risper Auma’s story doesn’t end with her own success. She is now a community mentor with Women Business Hub , guiding other women through the journe...

    Omondi never imagined that the rabbits he once kept for fun would become the key to rebuilding his future. Growing up in rural Kenya , his favorite subject in school was agriculture . He loved learning about animals, crops, and the rhythms of the land. But when the time came to join high school, financial hardship closed that door. With no scholarship and no fees, Omondi stayed home—disappointed, but not defeated. “I started rearing rabbits for fun ,” he recalls. “Just like having a pet.” At first, it was a way to stay busy, a quiet joy in the midst of uncertainty. He built simple cages, fed his rabbits with greens from the garden, and watched them multiply. But everything changed the day a friend invited him to a youth meeting organized by Women Business Hub . “I was shocked to learn that rabbits can be raised for making money,” Omondi says. That moment sparked something in him. He didn’t have the capital to start large-scale farming , but he had rabbits—and a n...

In a shaded outdoor setting filled with anticipation and reflection, Women Business Hub (WBH) convened an open forum designed to engage Adolescent and Young People (AYP) who had recently completed their secondary education. The gathering, held under the trees beside a community building, brought together a diverse group of young individuals seated in semi-circles—some fresh from high school, others preparing for the next chapter in college. This was more than a meeting; it was a moment of collective pause, a bridge between adolescence and adulthood, and a space for honest dialogue about dreams, uncertainties, and possibilities. The forum’s primary goal was to help AYPs articulate their expectations and anxieties as they transitioned from the structured life of high school into the open terrain of adulthood. WBH facilitators encouraged participants to share their hopes, fears, and questions about the future. These conversations revealed a rich tapestry of ambition—from aspirations to ...

  For over a decade, Jared Owino , a university graduate and father of six, searched tirelessly for formal employment. Each year brought new applications, interviews, and disappointments. But the breakthrough he longed for wasn’t in an office — it was waiting for him at home. In 2022, Jared’s wife Judith , a resilient vegetable vendor and member of a local women’s savings group, introduced him to the Women Business Hub (WBH). She had a vision: to turn their backyard pig pen into a thriving enterprise. With her encouragement, Jared agreed to manage the farm full-time. Using Judith’s savings and a US$2,000 loan facilitated through WBH’s Trade Over Aid Initiative , they launched JJ-Pig Farm . What began with a handful of piglets quickly grew into a disciplined, high-yield operation. Jared brought structure, record-keeping, and daily oversight. Judith handled feed sourcing, budgeting, and reinvestment. Together, they built a business rooted in trust, grit, and shared purpose. By ...

   In the heart of Kisumu , where the clang of metal often echoes the rhythm of men at work, 27-year-old Brenda Awino is rewriting the script. While many of her peers gravitated toward careers in beauty therapy , hospitality , or salon work —paths often deemed “suitable” for women—Brenda chose the fire, grit, and precision of welding . Her decision wasn’t just about passion. It was about purpose. “What men can do, women can do too,” Brenda says, her voice steady with conviction. “I want to break the status quo—where women are categorized only as beauty pageants. The world needs bold and courageous women. I am one of them.” Brenda’s journey began with a single spark—literally. Watching a welder craft a steel door outside her neighborhood, she saw not just metal being shaped, but opportunity. She enrolled in a local technical training program , often the only woman in her class, and faced skepticism from instructors and peers alike. But Brenda didn’t flinch. She welded thro...

  My name is James Kozi , a 23-year-old from Kisumu . I grew up as an orphan under the care of my grandmother in Ugenya . After her passing, I faced rejection from my uncles, who sent me away to search for a father I had never known. With nowhere else to turn, I moved to Kisumu in search of work. It was a difficult time, as I had no qualifications and opportunities were scarce. It was during this struggle that I encountered the Women Business Hub through their Trade Over Aid (TOA) Initiative . At first, I was skeptical. What kept me attending their meetings was something simple—tea and mandazi , which at least gave me a meal. Over time, however, I became inspired by listening to others share their stories of resilience and hope. I realized I, too, could build a future for myself. I chose a simple idea: becoming a barber . What started as curiosity soon grew into passion. The TOA team mentored me, arranged an attachment where I learned professional shaving skills, and provided...

When Dorcas first walked into the Women Business Hub orientation, she carried more than just hope—she carried the weight of responsibility. With two young children depending on her, and a dream of running her own shop, the Ksh 50,000 loan was more than money; it was a lifeline. She remembers the first day vividly: sitting in the financial literacy session, learning how to budget and save. Signing the loan agreement felt like signing a promise to her children—that life would change. With her first tranche of Ksh 15,000 , Dorcas stocked sugar, soap, and maize flour . Each sale was a step closer to dignity. Within weeks, she was repaying faithfully. But more importantly, she was proving to herself that she could manage credit responsibly. When she qualified for the second tranche , Dorcas expanded into farming inputs . Neighbors began to rely on her shop not just for household goods, but for seeds and fertilizer that sustained their families. Her progress report wasn’t just number...

Youth and women’s access to land rights and agribusiness ventures is a cornerstone of Kenya’s pursuit of sustainable food security, employment creation, and economic empowerment. Land remains the most critical resource for agricultural production, yet women and young people continue to face systemic barriers to ownership and control due to cultural norms, legal constraints, and limited financial capacity. Without secure tenure, they are unable to invest confidently in farming or agribusiness, which undermines both productivity and resilience. Ensuring equitable land rights is therefore not only a matter of justice but also a strategic imperative for national development. Agribusiness ventures provide a pathway for transforming agriculture from subsistence into a dynamic driver of economic growth. By engaging youth and women in value chains that extend beyond crop production into processing, distribution, and marketing, agribusiness strengthens local food systems and reduces relia...

The Trade Over Aid (TOA) initiative under WBH is redefining economic empowerment for women in Kisumu ’s informal settlements. By shifting from aid dependency to enterprise-driven dignity, TOA supports women-led microenterprises to grow, formalize, and access markets. The program builds on existing trade practices—enhancing them with training, capital access, digital finance , and visibility. Recent field visits and visual documentation reveal a thriving ecosystem of informal commerce: fruit vendors , grain sellers , cooking equipment makers , textile artisans, and traditional basket weavers —all demonstrating resilience, creativity, and untapped potential. Field Insights: Enterprise in Action The images collected during this reporting period offer compelling evidence of TOA’s impact: Fresh Produce Vendors : Women selling bananas, tomatoes, onions, avocados, and leafy greens from roadside stalls and shaded tables. Grain & Dry Goods Traders : Mobile m...