Last weekend, a clique of politicians made headlines at a “women empowerment” event in Bungoma, dishing out millions in donations. The crowd cheer with praise for their generosity. Interestingly, this event happened despite the government’s ban on such fundraisers. Even more puzzling, this comes at a time when the government keeps saying it’s strapped for cash, justifying higher taxes that are squeezing ordinary Kenyans. If we’re serious about empowerment, we need to talk about education, healthcare and a business environment that actually works
Donations are like band aid solutions. They might help someone pay a bill for a day, but they don’t fix the root problems. True empowerment starts with a solid education system, why not fix our schools, train more teachers, and make sure every Kenyan has a shot at a decent education. That’s how you build a generation that can stand on its own, not one waiting for the next handout.
Then there’s healthcare. How many times have we heard stories of hospitals with no medicine, no beds or no doctors? If the government wants to empower people, it should be pouring resources into hospitals hiring more nurses, and making sure that our medical system is efficient and affordable.
Conducive business environment is also key. Businesses are drowning in red tape, high taxes, and loans they can’t access. If we want to empower women, let’s make it easier for them to start and grow businesses. Create a system where entrepreneurs can thrive by simplifying business regulations and reducing compliance costs, expanding low-interest loans to boost SME credit access. Investing in digital infrastructure like 5G and innovation hubs and offering tax holidays for startups can drive innovation and job creation. That’s how you create jobs and promote wealth creation .
These donation events might make for good headlines, but they’re a distraction from the real work. Empowerment isn’t about politicians handing out cash on stage—it’s about building systems and policies that transform lives, not optics!
