The government has partnered with National Police Service to combat gender-based violence and unveils enhanced support under women enterprise fund,” says Cs Wendot

Parliament Buildings
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Hannah Wendot Cheptumo, appeared before the Senate Plenary to respond to questions raised by Senator Catherine Mumma (Nominated) and Senator (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC, MP (Kisumu County), concerning the surge in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases and the performance of the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) following its digitization efforts.

Responding to Senator Mumma’s inquiry on the role of the Ministry in addressing the challenges of the WEF’s digital lending system, the Cabinet Secretary explained that the Ministry has partnered with the National Police Service (NPS) through its Gender Desks to mobilize women groups, conduct community sensitization, monitor loan repayment progress, and dispel myths about the digital platform. This collaboration leverages the NPS’s grassroots presence to restore confidence in the lending process.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that over 18,955 women groups had benefited from Ksh. 941,901,105 under the digital system from July 1, 2023, to September 16, 2023, before its suspension due to a high default rate. Since reverting to the manual lending model in December 2024, an additional Ksh. 457,400,000 has been disbursed to 1,180 groups, benefiting 12,538 members. She clarified that NPS officers are not engaged on special contracts but are undertaking this work within their existing mandates.

Addressing the Senator’s follow-up question on the benefits offered under the revised WEF compared to the digital model, the Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the new system is broader, more structured, and designed to enhance access and equity. She cited the restoration of historical credit records, reinstatement of tiered lending cycles, and fast-tracking for legacy groups with good repayment histories. The fund now includes individual loan products with scalable limits based on repayment capacity, customized training, and partnerships with banks and SACCOs for better loan management, addressing gaps in the previous digital framework.

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted that the revised WEF offers comprehensive financial support, focusing on affordable loans and preventive financial literacy, with clear guidelines and reintegration efforts for the 117,544 groups that opted out. The system also ensures better access to constituency-level support and accountability through regular monitoring.

In response to Senator Ojienda’s question regarding the discontinuation of the digital lending approach amid rising GBV concerns, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the digital system was halted in 2023 due to its limitations, while GBV enforcement faced challenges like weak coordination and judicial delays. However, the Ministry, with the NPS, is implementing reforms, including 12 specialized GBV courts (e.g., Siaya, Kisumu, Nairobi) and a Presidential Working Group on Femicide formed in December 2024. She added that all women, including WEF beneficiaries, are now covered under enhanced safety measures, with 97 shelters mapped across 18 counties.

She concluded by assuring the Senate that the government remains committed to ensuring no Kenyan woman is left behind in accessing economic opportunities or safety. “Through the WEF and our GBV reforms, we are fostering empowerment and security for all,” the Cabinet Secretary stated, pledging increased funding for shelters and the development of the Gender Information Management System (GIMS).

Supplementary Questions and CS Responses

Senator Catherine Mumma posed a supplementary: “Why did the digitization of the fund fail, despite global economies going digital? And what is the highest loan amount defaulted on, and by whom?” CS Wendot responded: “The digital model offered loans of only Ksh. 50,000, compared to Ksh. 750,000 under the manual system. Women did not embrace this lower cap, and there was no effective tracking mechanism. As for defaults, the Pamoja Women Development Program received Ksh. 40 million—Ksh. 20 million in February and another Ksh. 20 million in December 2009. This case is in court, and we hold securities under Moses Karanja and Isaac Kitau Kamau. We await the court’s verdict.”

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyot asked: “How much has the Ministry requested from the current budget for individual loan products? And are there plans to partner with county governments to build capacity?” CS Wendot said: “We have requested Ksh. 4.5 billion for the next financial year. We’re already working with Nairobi, Kilifi, and Uasin Gishu counties and engaging others to scale outreach.”

Senator Kathuri Murungi asked: “Given the poor loan performance, would you support merging WEF with other funds like Youth Enterprise and Micro and Small Enterprise Funds into a single entity?” CS Wendot replied: “Each fund serves specialized groups with unique needs. A merger, if not piloted cautiously, could erode gains made in addressing women’s specific challenges. We prefer gradual integration through targeted pilots.”

Senator Veronica Maina asked: “Only 12,538 women have benefited from the revised WEF. How will you expand access, especially for single mothers and vulnerable women? What is the Ministry doing to ease loan security requirements?” CS Wendot responded:

“We’re working through chiefs and local administrators who know the beneficiaries personally, using social structures as informal security. The formal banking sector still poses challenges, but we’re engaging them to ease collateral requirements and improve accessibility.”

Senator George Mbugua asked: “What measures has the Ministry taken to ensure women with disabilities can access WEF loans? How many such groups have benefited?” CS Wendot responded: “We are developing a tailor-made product for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and will provide detailed data later. This group needs focused and sensitive engagement.”

Senator Eddy Oketch raised a concern: “What is your framework for ensuring repayment and evaluating the impact of WEF funds? How do you ensure women understand the lending terms and use funds effectively?” CS Wendot explained:

“We conduct physical visits and rely on group member guarantees. Officers provide training in local languages to ensure borrowers understand loan terms, usage, and repayment. Regular monitoring is our main strategy for impact evaluation.”

The Cabinet Secretary closed her session with a firm commitment: “We remain devoted to inclusivity, safety, and empowerment for all Kenyan women. We will work with Parliament to ensure all policies and resources reflect this resolve.”