The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) hosted the 2025 Women in Manufacturing Excellence Awards, shining a well-deserved spotlight on women who are breaking barriers, driving innovation, and making waves in the manufacturing industry.
Held during the annual Women in Manufacturing (WIM) Gala Dinner, themed “Accelerating Action: Empowering Women in Manufacturing for Progress,” was more than just a slogan—it was a call to action.
The awards honoured trailblazers whose impact is shaping the future of industrialization, proving that women are not just participating in manufacturing but leading it.
Guest speaker Agnes Netunze, CEO of Arise Kollections and Koko Agri Farms Ltd, Uganda, highlighted women’s incredible strides in manufacturing despite a long history of being sidelined.
“Manufacturing has been a male-dominated sector for too long but that is changing. Today, more women are stepping up, driving progress, and revolutionizing industry. It is time to not just empower but take action to support women at every level,” Netunze said.
“We need to ensure that women are coherently and successfully supported, as startups, MSMEs, and large corporations,” she added.
Netunze also listed leveraging operational and technical resources, creating networks for ideas exchange and attracting investment from within Africa and beyond as some of the areas of intervention to accelerate action for women in manufacturing.
She further emphasized the untapped potential across Africa, a continent rich in resources and home to the world’s fastest-growing population.
“With manufacturing contributing less than 12% of GDP in most African countries and less than 2% to global manufacturing, there is an urgent need to scale up industrialization efforts and women must be part of this transformation.”
Women-owned businesses in Kenya
KAM Women in Manufacturing Program Chairperson, Mary-Ann Musangi, acknowledged the remarkable growth of women-owned businesses but pointed out persistent challenges:
“Women entrepreneurs are rising, but barriers such as limited access to markets, finance, and growth opportunities still hold many back. To create real impact, we need to go beyond cities and empower women at the grassroots—in every county, in every manufacturing sub-sector.”
The WIM Program has been instrumental in bridging these gaps, providing mentorship, market linkages, and knowledge-sharing opportunities to equip women with the tools they need to succeed.
KAM Chief Executive, Tobias Alando reaffirmed the Association’s dedication to making manufacturing a more inclusive and supportive space for women.
“Our mission is clear: break down barriers, open doors, and ensure women thrive in this sector. Through WIM, we have provided capacity-building programs, mentorship, and policy advocacy to help women scale their businesses and strengthen their competitiveness.”
Women in Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025 winners
The Women in Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2025 winners in various categories are:
- WIM Industrialist of the year – Mary-Ann Musangi (Haco Industries Limited)
- Special Category Award – AfCFTA Warrior – Flora Mutahi (Melvin Marsh International)
- WIM Lifetime Achiever Award – Mary Ngechu (Lineplast Group Ltd)
- WIM ESG Warrior Award – Mary Ngechu (Takanimali)
- WIM Executive of the Year Award – Lina Githuka (KWAL)
- WIM Startup/ Innovator of the Year Award – Harriet Chebet Ng’ok (Harriet Botanicals).
