Waiguru Graces Award Celebrating Women In Business
The awards also featured men who have made it possible for women to grow and thrive in the ever-diversifying economy.
Marvin Chege 
Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Waiguru, who is also the Council of Governors (CoG) chair, graced the 2022 Women In Business Awards (WIB) on Friday, November 4.
The awards were a phenomenal success, living up to their resourcefulness of being a recognition award to celebrate exceptional women in business for their socioeconomic contributions and impact.
Awardees were women from the private and informal sectors and business owners who have achieved success by overcoming limiting norms and challenges. The business owner of the year was Mercy Mulilu of Devine Collections.
Governor Anne Waiguru presenting an award during the Women In Business (WIB) awards on November 4, 2022. /FILE
The awards also featured men who have made it possible for women to grow and thrive in the ever-diversifying economy.
Impact Award went to Hosea Kiili the CEO of County Pension Fund for coming up with the best tailored female product - Lady Bag- among corporate entities. The He for She Awards went to Treasury Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Eric Wafhukho.
The awards had various categories recognizing women of impact and companies that have demonstrated support for women-owned enterprises directly or indirectly.
"50 per cent of MSMEs are run by women and only 5 per cent of these women have prior or ongoing business training skills. As women in business our main goal should be mentoring fellow women as a way of bridging the gender gap that exists in the world of business," Waiguru said.
"What is the structure of your success? If you were to do it over again and share this structure of success with the next woman and generation, what would be the secret sauce that we can articulate, replicate and scale? Understanding and sharing this honest structure of your success story is very crucial in our collective progress as women."
Waiguru was assisted by the chairperson of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Flora Mutahi.
The host of the event was the CEO of Women in Business, Mary Muthoni, who noted with clarity the purpose of Women in Business.
She applauded the Government for creating the hustler fund which is going to assist over 90 per cent of the membership of the Women in Business Kenya Organisation.
"Our very clear mandate as Women In Business Kenya is 'Money, Markets & Mentorship'. We are very keen on how women can access finance, markets and mentorship," she said.
WIB is an Organisation that holds over three million members across the country and beyond race, religion or any affiliation. “We are a one-stop shop for female enterprises”
Muthoni also noted that Women need to register their businesses to ensure they benefit from opportunities around them from Government, private sector, development partners, financial institutions and global donor/grants funding.
Full list of awardees in Women In Business (WIB) Awards 2022
- E-BAKERS CREATIONS- Bakery & Confectionary Award
- Conversations With Wandy- Best in HR & Consultancy Award
- Chelangat Koskei & Company Advocates- Legal Service Provider of the Year Award
- Joy Village LTD- Education & Training Leader of The Year Award
- Junky Bins Company Ltd- Environment Conservation Leader of the Year Award
- K'osewe Ronalo Foods- Events, Conferencing & Hospitality Award of The Year
- Andy Speaks 4 Special Needs Persons Africa- Social Enterprise of the Year Award
- Pettmall Shelters Limited- Real Estate Agent of the Year Award
- Bama Diaspora Realty Limited- Best Diaspora Real Estate Company
- Jalad Aesthetic Clinic- Startup of the Year Award
- ORAC BRANDING LTD- Young Entrepreneur Of the Year Award
- Bepak Logistics Ltd- Transport and Logistics Champion of The Year Award
- Mercy Maluli- Women Business Owner of the Year
- Flora Mutahi- Trailblazers Award
- H.E Susan Kihika- Trailblazers Award
- H.E Cecily Mbarire, MGH- Trailblazers Award
- Rev. Kathy Kiuna- Trailblazers Award
- Laura Akunga- Trailblazers Award
- H.E Anne Waiguru EGH, OGW- Trailblazers Award
- Ladybag powered by CPF- Tailor Made Product of the Year Award
- Stanbic Bank Limited- Financial Leadership Award
- Hon Eric Simiyu Wafukho- He for She Award
- KEPSA- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Hosea Kili, OGW- Impact Award
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
- Asha Hersi Moghe
- Mercy Mbogori
- Dr Arshni Malde
- Margaret Gachagua,HSC
- Irene Ajwang
- Khadija Grawal
- Lucy Ngorongo
- Diana Kolek
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru with Women in Business Kenya (WIB) CEO Mary Muthoni (far left) during the Women In Business awards on November 4, 2022. /COURTESY
