Shining a Light on Women and Youth Entrepreneurs
Highlights from the Kisumu Dialogue Event
In Kisumu County, where the shores of Lake Victoria meet a bustling hub of trade and culture, a new wave of entrepreneurial energy is rising. On 23rd July 2025, Kisumu became the stage for the first-ever BiasharaPawa Dialogue Event, a pioneering platform under the IYBA-SEED (Investing in Young Businesses in Africa–Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development) initiative led by SNV.
This event marked the beginning of a nine-part dialogue series taking place across Kisumu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu counties through to September 2026. Hosted by WiseHub in partnership with Responsible Business Consulting (RBC) and Kaizen Consultancy, the Kisumu gathering drew 125 participants: entrepreneurs, county officials, private sector leaders, and academia. Together, they shared one goal advancing women and youth entrepreneurship in underrepresented sectors. The energy, optimism, and collaboration on display signalled a powerful shift in Kisumu’s entrepreneurial landscape.
A Platform for Inclusion and Opportunity
The Kisumu dialogue was far more than a business event. It was a movement to recognize and elevate women and youth whose voices are often missing in key economic spaces. From inspiring role models sharing their journeys, to over 80 seed and pre-seed entrepreneurs eager to learn and connect, the room was filled with determination and possibility. County leaders, academic institutions such as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and technology (JOOUST) and Maseno University, and private sector partners including Equity Bank Foundation and Pepea Capital sat side by side with small-scale entrepreneurs and local hubs. It was a rare moment where people who do not usually share the same platform came together to imagine solutions.
Central to the day’s discussions were eight sectors that hold both promise and challenges for women and youth: agriculture and agribusiness, green and circular economy, manufacturing and engineering, technology and innovation, the blue economy, financial services, infrastructure development, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In breakout sessions, participants exchanged perspectives on how to dismantle barriers and unlock opportunities in these fields, many of which have long been dominated by men. Ideas ranged from sustainable agriculture practices like black soldier fly protein supplements, to harnessing Lake Victoria’s untapped potential for women and youth, to the future of digital entrepreneurship.
As Caroline Odera, CEO of WiseHub, put it:
“We need to recognize and celebrate women and youth in sectors that are underrepresented in Kenya. Dialogue and knowledge exchange are how we start building a future of job creators in our region.”
Government Commitment in Action
The dialogue also highlighted the role of the local county government in creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship. Hon. Farida Salim, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Tourism, Industry and Marketing, shared encouraging updates:
“We as Kisumu County Government are actively working to put in place strategies that improve the businesses of small-scale traders. Our goal is to ensure that they grow from where we found them and walk with them until they reach a place of progress.”
These commitments include new entrepreneurship clinics, a revolving fund, and the ‘smartduka’ programme targeting 6,000 entrepreneurs, practical steps that signal a growing alignment between policy and the needs of local businesses.
A Collective Vision for Change
The greatest achievement of the Kisumu Dialogue Event lies not in a single announcement but in the momentum it created. Partnerships forged in that room are already being translated into action, from mentorship programmes linking young entrepreneurs with role models, to a toolkit that will guide future dialogue events.
The journey now moves to Nakuru County on 28 August 2025, the second stop in a series designed to ensure that women and youth are not only part of business conversations but are also seen, heard, and supported in tangible ways.
As Nduta Ndirangu, Project Manager at IYBA-SEED Kenya, reminded participants:
“Strengthening the ecosystem means equipping women and youth businesses better. We’re shifting from an employment-seeking mindset to a business-building culture.”
With passion, partnerships, and persistence, Kisumu’s entrepreneurs are not just imagining change—they are building it. Supported by development partners, county and national governments, and a vibrant network of entrepreneurship support organisations, the BiasharaPawa movement is setting the stage for a new generation of job creators.
The Kisumu event is part of the BiasharaPawa campaign under the IYBA-SEED Kenya project, led by SNV and brought to life with the collaboration of Responsible Business Consulting, Kaizen Consultancy, WiseHub, NakuruBox, and EldoHub. Together, these partners are championing change in Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Kisumu counties.
For more information about upcoming events and how to get involved, follow the BiasharaPawa campaign on social media or contact WiseHub, NakuruBox and EldoHub in your respective counties.