The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) has hosted the inaugural Women in Export Trade Forum, a landmark national platform aimed at accelerating women’s participation in Kenya’s export economy.
Held under the theme “She Exports, She Thrives: Unlocking Women’s Potential in Global Trade,” the forum seeks to celebrate and empower women entrepreneurs who are driving Kenya’s export growth while unlocking new opportunities for women-led enterprises in international markets.
While presiding over the ceremony, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Regina Ombam, underscored the urgency to change the narrative of women in export trade.
“From where I stand, it is essential that we share practical information on how women can move beyond local markets and tap into international opportunities. Women need to know what global pathways exist and how to access them. Real empowerment must be tangible and actionable for us,” said Ombam.
“We must claim our space, challenge long held stereotypes and stand in our full potential. Let us support one another, those already exporting should lift and guide those who aspire to do the same. Together, we can expand our reach and strengthen our impact.”
How many enterprises do Kenyan women own?
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), women own more than 7.4 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), accounting for nearly half of all registered businesses in the country.
However, despite this strong entrepreneurial presence, fewer than 12 percent of Kenya’s formal exporters are women led enterprises, and women owned firms collectively capture under 8 percent of the total export revenues.
Within the East African Community, women play a dominant role in informal cross border trade, constituting 40 to 80 percent of such activity, yet their contribution remains largely unrecorded and unrecognized in formal trade statistics.
The survey further highlight this disparity: only 9 percent of Kenyan firms are majority women owned, below the Sub Saharan Africa average of 15 percent for small firms, and although women constitute 49 percent of all enterprise owners, their businesses generate just 20 percent of Kenya’s GDP.
Why it’s important to empower women
In her presentation, KEPROBA CEO, Floice Mukabana noted that empowering women exporters is key to strengthening Kenya’s competitiveness in global trade.
“Women entrepreneurs play a critical role in Kenya’s economic growth and export diversification. Through initiatives such as the Women in Export Trade Forum, KEPROBA is creating platforms that equip women-led enterprises with the knowledge, networks and market linkages needed to access regional and global markets,” she said.
Mukabana noted that KEPROBA continues to implement programmes that support women exporters through export readiness training, market intelligence, trade promotion initiatives and participation in international trade fairs, enabling them to scale their businesses and compete globally.
As the national Agency mandated to promote exports and strengthen Kenya’s global brand, KEPROBA is working to ensure that women entrepreneurs are not only included in the export ecosystem but are also positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities in international markets.
The forum featured a high-level panel discussion on “The State of Women in Kenya’s Export Economy: Progress, Gaps, and the Road Ahead,” bringing together experienced women exporters and industry leaders to share insights on expanding women’s participation in global trade.
In 2027, the Agency will roll out three major initiatives namely, Women Exporters Network Kenya (WEN‑Kenya), the She Exports Awards, and the Made in Kenya -Women Exporters Programme.
Looking ahead, KEPROBA is committed to fostering strategic dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and implementing practical, high‑impact solutions to accelerate the growth and competitiveness of women‑led export enterprises in Kenya.
