In his keynote address, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto emphasized that empowering women and youth is not merely a social agenda but a critical economic strategy for the nation. 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 7.4 million MSMEs, which contribute up to 40% of the GDP.

“Opportunity without capability creates inequality,” stated Dr. Rutto. “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”.

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”. To improve digital inclusiveness, the government is currently:

• Expanding Infrastructure: Deploying 100,000 km of fiber optic cable and establishing 1,450 additional digital hubs to ensure last-mile connectivity.
• Enhancing Accessibility: Focusing on providing affordable devices and public Wi-Fi to reach all parts of the country.
• Policy Innovation: Developing flexible frameworks, including regulatory sandboxes, to support startups and secure data protection.

The Ministry underscored 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.

Chief Guest at the event 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.

The Vice Minister noted that Lithuania’s approach is fully aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes sustainable investment and digital transformation.

“Lithuania sees Kenya as a very important partner in Africa. A country with strong economical potential, a dnamic 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 vice minister promised to extend cooperation between Kenya and Lithuania through trade with more programmes and trade missions expected in the future.

The conference featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KNCCI and the Vilnius National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Craft 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.

END

Media Contact:

Kamau Mbote

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI)

Phone: +254724684368

Email: kamau.mbote@kenyachamber.or.ke/ media@kenyachamber.or.ke/

About the Skills4Women & Youth Project

The Skills4Women & Youth in Kenya project is a joint initiative by KNCCI and the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts and funded by the Lithuanian Development Cooperation. It focuses on training entrepreneurs in digital marketing, e-commerce, international business, and cybersecurity to enhance the competitiveness of women and youth-led businesses in the global market.

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