KAM Launches First-ever Women In Manufacturing Study Report

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has launched the first-ever Women in Manufacturing Report.

The outcomes of the research shall pivot KAM’s advocacy drive of the Women in Manufacturing Program in Kenya, by providing concrete data on the necessary areas to improve. It shall inform stakeholders in mainstreaming gender equality and inclusion in the manufacturing sector.

Speaking during the report launch, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development Principal Secretary, Dr. Francis Owino lauded KAM’s efforts towards promoting women’s participation in the local manufacturing sector.

“The Women in Manufacturing Study is a great milestone for the local industry. As a government, we are keen to see women take up opportunities in manufacturing. We envisage the integration of gender issues into the development process across all sectors, including industry. We shall continue to work with the private sector to eliminate discrimination in venturing into the sector, as well as do away with challenges that hinder women from soaring in the production of goods and services,” said PS Owino.

He added that the government continues to support equality and inclusion in the economic development of the country, saying, “The Government of Kenya has ratified regional and global policy and legal frameworks that target the promotion of gender equality and diversity in the workforce. We have also institutionalized affirmative action funds such as Women Enterprise Fund, Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), Uwezo Fund, all aimed at creating a level playing field for women in the sector.”

Nairobi County Women Representative, Ms. Esther Passaris emphasized the need for supporting legislation to ensure women’s participation in the economic development of our country.

“Whereas women need to be bold in the face of institutional and cultural barriers to their participation in key sectors, we need to develop legislation that supports them. This will ensure policy sustainability, which encourages increased investments in the sector,” she explained.

KAM Chair, Mr. Mucai Kunyiha noted that KAM continues to advocate for an inclusive manufacturing sector, through the establishment of policies and incentives that encourage women to be key players in value and supply chains.

“Women are making strides in steering the growth of the global manufacturing sector and demonstrating that manufacturing is a fulfilling career with limitless opportunities. We need to equip, mentor, and build women who will start businesses in the sector as well as take up decision- making positions,” noted Mr. Mucai.

He added that the onus is on Kenya’s manufacturing sector to adapt manufacturing processes and cultures that will attract and retain more women, “We need to equip, mentor, and build women who will start businesses in the sector as well as take up decision- making positions. Our aspiration as an Association is to see more women participate in the sector in senior leadership roles, as owners and founders, and for young girls to see themselves as future industrialists. We need to be deliberate to include more women-owned enterprises into the manufacturing value chain and assist them in building their capacities to take up new roles in emerging opportunities, such as Industry 4.0.”

The Women in Manufacturing (WIM) program, Chair, Ms. Flora Mutahi, explained that the report is a major step towards achieving WIM’s vision for equality, inclusivity, and diversity in the sector.

“From the survey, companies in the manufacturing sector are predominantly male-owned and staff across all its fourteen manufacturing subsectors, except for the chemical and allied subsector, that accounts for 50% female. Three out of the 14 sectors have a female workforce of 40%; these are agriculture and fresh produce, paper and board, and services and consultancy. In terms of leadership, female-led Multinational Corporations (MNCs) had 85% of women in senior management slightly higher than male-led MNCs, which stood at 83%,” remarked Ms. Mutahi.

She added that male-owned enterprises have more women in senior management, with female-led local companies having more women in senior management.

“Male- owned companies had slightly more women in senior management at 89% whereas female-owned companies stood at 85%. On the other hand, female-led local companies had more women in senior management at 88% compared to male-led local companies at 75%.  Companies that had been in operation for more than 40 years had a female workforce of 29%. This rose to 35% for companies that were in operation for 11-20 years and was even higher at 41% for the newest companies that are less than a year old. 93% of women-owned manufacturing businesses are MSMEs and operate in the informal sector.