Kenya’s Golden Opportunity

Infrastructure: Kenya’s Golden Opportunity – But Who’s Building the Future?
Infrastructure is more than concrete and steel – it’s the backbone of Kenya’s economy, powering roads, bridges, housing, water systems, and the digital networks that connect us all. Kenya invests nearly 15% of its national budget – over Ksh 500 billion annually – into this sector.
But here’s the reality: women and youth, who make up 70% of Kenya’s population, remain underrepresented in this multi-billion-shilling industry.
The numbers say it all:
Only 7.3% of registered engineers are women

15.5% are contractors

17% are quantity surveyors

And at the artisanal level – welders, carpenters, masons – women represent a mere 3%..
The Biashara Pawa initiative under IYBA-SEED is stepping in to expand the space for women and youth in infrastructure by creating platforms for dialogue, learning, partnerships, and storytelling. These conversations are unlocking doors to financing, technical skills, and new markets – ensuring women and youth are not left behind but lead the change.
Infrastructure is where Kenya’s growth literally meets the ground. The question is – will women and youth watch from the sidelines or build the future themselves?
The Biashara Pawa initiative is anchored in deep collaboration between IYBASEED Kenya, SNV, Responsible Business Consulting, Kaizen Consultancy, Wisehub, EldOHUB, and Nakuru Box in the three target counties – Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Kisumu – to co-create dialogue events, identify role models, amplify stories, and inspire action.