Women in STEM and Emerging Enterprises Urged to Power Africa’s Innovation and Economic Growth
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By James Nyaigoti,
Africa’s transformation lies in the hands of its women and small enterprises, according to a strong message delivered during two parallel high-level events in Nairobi today the Women in STEM Africa Summit held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and the China Trade Week Forum.
At the Women in STEM Summit, Ms. Joyce Muthoni, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA), called on women and girls to step into leadership roles in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She emphasized that the continent’s future must be shaped by inclusive innovation and the deliberate positioning of women at the center of digital transformation.
“You are not the leaders of tomorrow; you are the leaders of now,” Ms. Muthoni declared, citing leading African women like Dr. Gladys Letich (aerospace), Esther Kimani (agri-tech), and Nnebi Chiboy (digital literacy) as pioneers actively solving Africa’s biggest challenges.
Despite increasing participation, Ms. Muthoni noted that only 30% of Africa’s STEM professionals are women with just 1% in software engineering far behind global standards. She urged academic institutions, governments, and private sector partners to invest in girl-centered STEM initiatives and dismantle systemic barriers such as inadequate access to mentorship, funding, and education.
WITIA’s initiatives, she revealed, include the development of smart libraries in underserved schools, such as one being launched this week in a low-cost school in Nairobi County. The organization is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education and TVET institutions to set up a smart library for the visually impaired at Machakos Institute of the Blind. WITIA’s mentorship programme has already onboarded a first cohort of 17 university students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and many summit speakers are expected to serve as mentors.
Ms. Lilian Kiambati, a senior engineer at Safaricom, reinforced the need for early digital education and inclusive technology, especially in rural settings. She highlighted Safaricom’s pilot interventions like the installation of phone-charging stations in isolated communities such as Father Island, helping bridge the digital gap.
“Technology has evolved, but many still lack access. We must integrate digital literacy into early education to ensure no child is left behind,” said Ms. Kiambati.
She announced that Safaricom has rolled out six women-focused initiatives in tech, ranging from mentorships and internships to robotics training and school outreach. As a result, women’s participation in tech roles at the company has increased from 8% to 26%, with a target of 40%. She also emphasized the need for ethical digital systems that uphold data privacy and promote responsible artificial intelligence.
One of the summit’s highlights included the partnership with Dr. Taiba, a Mombasa-based medical doctor who shifted to environmental entrepreneurship. Dr. Taiba has established a biogas production plant that recycles waste — a smart and sustainable innovation WITIA is now supporting.
Meanwhile, across town at the China Trade Week forum, Mr. James Mureu, Chairperson of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), advocated for a shift in mindset and terminology, urging stakeholders to reframe the conversation around small businesses.
“Let’s stop calling them micro and small enterprises. These are emerging enterprises — the drivers of our economy,” said Mr. Mureu, noting that such businesses contribute over 40% of Kenya’s GDP and provide 90% of all jobs. He stressed that their contributions, especially through indirect taxes, deserve recognition from agencies like the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Mr. Mureu called on policymakers to include small business owners in national economic planning and emphasized the untapped potential within women entrepreneurs. He urged the adoption of digital tools — mobile banking, social commerce, and e-commerce — to remain competitive in the digital economy.
He praised government programmes such as the Kenya Youth Employment and Training (KJET) initiative and the National Youth Opportunity for Transformation and Advancement (NYOTA), calling them critical tools in supporting women and youth-led enterprises. Drawing inspiration from Chinese resilience and innovation, he urged African entrepreneurs to leverage trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“Women, in particular, demonstrate high levels of business accountability and sustainability. They must be central to our enterprise development policies,” he added.
Although the two events had different focal points STEM leadership and enterprise growth they converged on a shared vision: Africa’s economic and innovation future depends on inclusive systems that empower women and support emerging enterprises. Stakeholders committed to deepening partnerships, reforming outdated policies, and nurturing innovation ecosystems that leave no one behind.
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