The Seasoned Woman

At the Credence Africa Women in Wealth Summit hosted by GraceN Law, with PS for Trade Regina Ombam, Christine Maina of EAVCA, Rose Kemene of Family Bank,Queens Women Banking,among other distinguished guests.

It was an honour contributing at this Summit, at a moment when the conversation around women and wealth is no longer aspirational; it is imperative. We are no longer merely discussing inclusion; we are defining influence. We are not simply advocating for participation; we are shaping ownership.

Wealth creation for women must move beyond the idea of income generation alone because true economic empowerment lies in ownership—ownership of assets, equity, and value chains.

Women must not only build businesses, but also retain stakes in them, participate in investment opportunities, and reinvest in future ventures. This is how legacies are built. This is how wealth is sustained. And this is how wealth is transferred across generations.

Women should not wait to be invited into the investment space but should prepare for it, position themselves for it. Claim their place within it,
because the future of enterprise is not just inclusive it is driven by women who are ready, equipped, and determined to build at scale.

The summit was not just a conversation—but a catalyst.
A catalyst for stronger frameworks.
A catalyst for greater access.
And most importantly, a catalyst for women who are not only participating in the economy but shaping it.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞.

Join us next week on Thursday, 19th March 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (EAT) for our Business Leaders Webinar Series in partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), AFAWA, NCBA Bank and the SME Support Centre.

We are pleased to host Mrs.Sally Mahihu, Chairperson, Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya), who will share insights on “Rebuilding the Walls: Positioning Kenya as a Key Investment Hub.”

Register via: https://tinyurl.com/yc8fuefs

If you are looking for a session that will offer valuable perspectives for SMEs seeking to understand and engage with Kenya’s investment ecosystem, then you cannot afford to miss this session!

" 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫"was the theme at the exclusive, invite-only Women's Day Breakfast, hosted by the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA) in partnership with Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Women-led Programme, where I was invited to deliver the Keynote Address. The Women's Day Breakfast brought together senior women leaders from within and beyond the private capital ecosystem for a morning of reflection, connection, and dialogue.

In my keynote speech, I commended EAVCA for convening this inspiring Breakfast not just as a celebration, but as a space for reflection and collective action. It's about strengthening the foundations upon which leadership, capital and opportunity stand.

" 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭."reminds us of a fundamental truth: we cannot pour from empty cups. You cannot deploy what you do not have. Women cannot lead, innovate, and scale businesses if they are undercapitalised, under-networked, and under-supported. Equally, economies cannot thrive when half of their talent is structurally constrained.

To " 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭" means:

• investing in capacity: financial capacity, leadership capacity, and institutional capacity.
• ensuring that women founders have access not just to funding, but to mentorship,
governance support, market linkages, and global networks.
• Investing in competence and credibility; and building networks of trust.
• Strengthening our resilience and being clear about our values.
From our vantage point at the Kenya Investment Authority, we are seeing a shift in how global
investors assess destinations. Increasingly, they ask:
• How inclusive is your investment ecosystem?
• What is the participation of women across value chains?
• Do your policies support equitable access to opportunity?

But " 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭" is only half the story. The second half is " 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 " No single actor can transform access to capital alone. Not government. Not venture funds. Not development partners. Not founders. Rising together requires deliberate collaboration. It requires venture capital funds to interrogate their sourcing pipelines, their due diligence frameworks, and even their unconscious biases. When women are capitalised, families stabilise. When families stabilise, communities strengthen. When communities strengthen, economies accelerate.

Kenya is positioning itself as a regional hub for innovation, digital transformation, climate smart investments, and SME growth. Women are central to all of these sectors. If we are
serious about scaling our venture ecosystem in East Africa, then gender inclusion must move from aspiration to architecture.

So we must commit:

• To intentional capital allocation with measurable targets.
• To strengthening the investment-readiness pipeline for women-led ventures.
• To ensuring that “rising together” is not symbolic, but structural.

" 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 " is about capacity.

" 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 " is about solidarity.

Let us 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 intentionally. Let us 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 collectively. And let us invest boldly in women, in innovation, and in Africa’s shared prosperity.

https://cioviews.com/empowering-transformation-sally-mahihus-journey-of-purpose-integrity-and-economic-vision/

Empowering Transformation: Sally Mahihu’s Journey of Purpose, Integrity, and Economic Vision Leadership is sometimes characterized by title and influence, but for Sally Mahihu, it is values, purpose, and the power of driving transformation. Her path is one of conviction and professional commitment, influenced by early exposure and a strong passion for lifting communities. Through her career...