Access to Capital Is the Biggest Barrier to Women’s Success, Says First Lady Rachel Ruto at JoyWo Anniversary

First Lady Rachel Ruto has called on the nation to unlock the full potential of women by addressing the long-standing challenge of limited access to financial capital. Speaking during the Joyful Women (JoyWo) 16th Anniversary celebrations at Kasarani, Nairobi, she said women across the country have ideas and the drive to succeed but often lack the resources to scale up their enterprises.

The First Lady cited real-life transformation stories of beneficiaries who have grown from small beginnings into successful entrepreneurs. “Mrs Gitobu from Meru, who joined a small group in 2013, grew her dairy farm and built rental properties, while Diana from Nairobi turned 500 shillings into 400,000 shillings,” she said, adding that Diana now runs Amari Dina, a business selling honey, peanut butter and skincare products in supermarkets.

She stressed that the success of such women proves that opportunity, not talent, has been the missing link. “Women do not lack ideas. Women are diligent. They have only lacked access to financial capital,” she added.

Rachel Ruto also commended government-backed financial support programmes including the Hustle Fund, Nyota Fund and the Women Enterprise Fund, saying they are helping to break financial barriers that have historically locked women out of economic opportunities. She noted that increased access to affordable credit is now enabling more women to invest, grow businesses and create employment in their communities.

Reflecting on the growth of JoyWo since its founding in 2009, the First Lady likened the organisation to a mugumo tree, symbolising stability, resilience and deep-rooted impact across the country. She said the strength of the organisation lies in the unity of its members and the shared stories of resilience and progress.

Looking ahead, the First Lady urged women to remain bold and ambitious as they shape the next phase of economic empowerment. She described women as the backbone of the economy and key architects of the country’s future development.

Joyful Women has so far empowered more than 20,000 women across all 47 counties through table-banking, savings and enterprise development initiatives. The anniversary celebration was also attended by President William Ruto, who praised the initiative for uplifting thousands of Kenyan women over the past 16 years.