Kenya, Lithuania partner to scale Women and youth-led enterprises

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Dr. Erick Rutto, has reiterated that empowering women and youth is not merely a social agenda but a critical economic strategy for the nation of Kenya and the continent of Africa.

Highlighting Kenya’s demographic strength, Dr. Rutto noted that over 75% of the population is below age 35, and women lead a significant portion of the country's 7.4m MSMEs, which contribute up to 40% of the GDP.

He was speaking during the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Digital Literacy Conference in Nairobi, where a partnership between the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), in collaboration with the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (VCCIC) was announced.

The high-level forum marked a significant milestone in the Skills4Women & Youth in Kenya initiative, aimed at bridging the digital divide and fostering economic resilience.

"Opportunity without capability creates inequality. Our role is to ensure our entrepreneurs are equipped with the right skills and connected to the right markets to move from informal survival to scalable, sustainable growth,” Dr. Rutto said.

The President reported impressive results from the Skills for Women and Youth Programme (2024–2026), which has already trained 478 SMEs, nearly four times the initial target and deployed 138 certified trainers across all 47 counties.

Representing the Ministry of ICT, the speech "Bridging the Digital Divide in Kenya" Secretary ICT, E-Government and Digital Economy Mary Kerema outlined the government’s aggressive roadmap toward an "intelligent economy"

She stated that to improve digital inclusiveness, the government is currently expanding infrastructure by deploying 100,000 km of fibre optic cable and establishing 1,450 additional digital hubs to ensure last-mile connectivity.

The government is also enhancing accessibility, focusing on providing affordable devices and public Wi-Fi to reach all parts of the country. And finally, developing flexible frameworks, including regulatory sandboxes, to support startups and secure data protection.

The Ministry highlighted that bridging the divide requires moving beyond simple access to "meaningful participation," where women are not just users of technology but innovators and decision-makers.

While issuing the keynote speech, the chief guest, Lithuanian MFA Vice Minister Vidmantas Verbickas, highlighted Kenya as a vital partner in Africa, noting that the cooperation is built on three key priorities: strengthening skills for a digital economy, creating practical partnerships, and fostering long-term impact.

"Lithuania sees Kenya as a very important partner in Africa. A country with strong economic potential, a dynamic private sector, and a clear vision for digital and economic transformation. Lithuania is committed to working with Kenya not only as a donor, but as a reliable partner in building resilient systems and supporting innovation,” Verbickas stated.

The conference featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KNCCI and the Vilnius National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts to further solidify the business ties between Kenya and Lithuania.

KNCCI CEO KK Mutai reiterated that the Chamber Business Academy will continue to serve as a permanent platform for mentorship and capacity building to ensure the sustainability of these digital gains.