Rachel Ruto links women’s economic empowerment to family welfare

First Lady Rachel Ruto has said economic empowerment is critical to improving women’s livelihoods and strengthening families, arguing that women with reliable sources of income are better placed to support their households.

Speaking during women’s empowerment engagements in Siaya and Kisumu counties today, Mama Rachel Ruto said women play a central role in Kenya’s economic activities and should have greater access to opportunities, markets and affordable credit.

“Women’s empowerment is not a favour but an investment in Kenya’s economic future,” she said.

She said economic empowerment should go beyond providing financial support to creating sustainable opportunities for women to earn and invest.

“A woman with a sustainable source of income can keep her children in school and ensure they have nutritious meals,” she said.

The First Lady said the government was expanding programmes aimed at improving women’s access to credit, including the Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and Hustler Fund, alongside other affirmative action initiatives.

In Siaya, she cited ongoing and planned government projects that she said would create economic opportunities for residents, including modern markets, the Sh1 billion blue economy development project at Usenge, the Sh100 million fish landing site at Wichlum and expanded electricity connections.

She said the projects would provide opportunities for women involved in trade, fishing, processing and other businesses.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said government-funded infrastructure projects had increased economic activity in Siaya, citing markets, affordable housing and electricity connections.

Wandayi said the county had received more than Sh30 billion in government investments, although he did not provide a breakdown of the projects or expenditure.

He also expressed confidence that Siaya residents would overwhelmingly support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election, predicting that the President would secure more than 99 per cent of the vote in the county.

Wandayi also conveyed greetings from former Nyanza senator Oburu Oginga and the wider Odinga family.

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga said the government was prioritising healthcare for women, children and people living with disabilities.

“We want to make the health of every woman and child a priority in this country,” Oluga said.

Siaya Governor’s spouse, Betty Orengo, said thousands of women in the county had benefited from the First Lady’s Joyful Women Organization and called for more women’s groups to be registered to access its programmes.

During her visit, the First Lady also distributed shoes and dignity packs to learners at Okela Primary and Okela Secondary schools.

She said similar support would be extended to learners in Chianda, Kobonyo, Ragengni, Lweya and Mituri, while pupils in Madiany, Pala Kobong, Gagra and Migowa would receive dignity packs.

Oluga, who attended the event, is a former student of Okela schools.

The First Lady also distributed equipment intended to support fish processing and value addition as part of the government’s blue economy programme. The equipment included freezers, coolers, weighing scales, raised racks, packaging materials, tongs, filleting knives and fish fryers.

She further distributed 10,000 fruit seedlings—5,000 mango and 5,000 orange seedlings—alongside 5,000 vegetable seedlings and 50 umbrellas to women traders in local markets.

The engagements were also attended by Children Affairs Principal Secretary Karen Ageng’o and Siaya Woman Representative Christine Ombaka.