NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 11 – Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) has launched a national initiative aimed at increasing the participation of women-led businesses in Kenya’s export market.
The agency hosted the inaugural Women in Export Trade Forum in Nairobi under the theme “She Exports, She Thrives: Unlocking Women’s Potential in Global Trade,” bringing together policymakers, exporters and entrepreneurs to discuss ways of expanding women’s access to international markets.
Speaking at the forum, Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam urged women entrepreneurs to pursue opportunities beyond local markets and tap into global trade.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows women own more than 7.4 million micro, small and medium enterprises, accounting for nearly half of all registered businesses in the country.
However, fewer than 12 percent of Kenya’s formal exporters are women-led, and such firms account for less than 8 percent of export revenues.
Within the East African Community region, women dominate informal cross-border trade, representing between 40 and 80 percent of participants, though much of this activity remains undocumented in formal trade statistics.
KEPROBA Chief Executive Officer Floice Mukabana said supporting women exporters is key to strengthening Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets.
The agency plans to expand export readiness training, provide market intelligence and support participation in international trade fairs to help women-led businesses scale and access new markets.
KEPROBA also announced plans to roll out new initiatives in 2027, including the Women Exporters Network Kenya (WEN-Kenya), the She Exports Awards, and the Made in Kenya – Women Exporters Programme, aimed at supporting the growth of women-led export enterprises.
