Breaking barriers with digital skills: Empowering women entrepreneurs in Kenya

From bustling urban centers to remote villages, women in Kenya are embracing digital tools to expand their businesses and reach new markets. Yet, in marginalized communities, limited access to technology and digital skills is still a challenge and many women-led businesses struggle to navigate the digital economy.

The Women in Digital Business (WIDB) initiative, developed in partnership by the International Training Center of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Microsoft Philanthropies, is bridging this gap by equipping women with the skills needed to thrive in a digital economy. The programme empowers women entrepreneurs to build an online presence, set up digital sales channels, and integrate technology into their business operations.

At the core of WIDB is a “train the trainer” approach, ensuring that digital knowledge spreads across communities. Certified trainers not only mentor other trainers and entrepreneurs, but also inspire many to become trainers themselves, creating a ripple effect to reach even the most isolated communities.

In Kaswanga, a secluded village on Rusinga Island nestled along the shores of Lake Victoria, on the border with Uganda, digital tools are helping local women break geographical barriers and expand beyond their local community.

Ouma Gordon, a dedicated WIDB lead trainer, travels over an hour across challenging terrain to deliver digital skills training in this isolated area. “Before WIDB, most women only used their phones to make calls,” Ouma explains. “Now, they’re marketing their products on Facebook and Instagram, selling everything from farm produce to home-cooked meals and handmade crafts, reaching buyers from all over the country.”

In a region where fishing is the primary economic activity and other opportunities are limited, digital platforms have become an essential means for women to access a larger market.

The president of the local cooperative, where the training takes place, proudly shares how one woman posted about selling omena, a small lake sardine that is sold dry, and soon received orders from Nairobi, Mombasa, and even Wajir in the north. “What we’ve learned here is that digital tools are the only way to overcome remoteness and break the isolation that limits women in marginalized communities,” he says.

Fatuma, a young entrepreneur from the remote coastal town of Shimoni, always dreamed of turning her passion for hairdressing into a sustainable business. Initially, she worked as a mobile hairdresser, visiting clients in their homes. But after joining the WIDB programme, she realized she could expand it further.

“The digital training gave me the confidence to open a physical salon in Shimoni,” Fatuma shares. “After the training with Joan Wafula, I started to showcase my work and my products online, attracting new clients.”

Joan Wafula, a WIDB lead trainer and teacher at Shimoni Secondary School, is confident that digital skills have the potential to change lives for the better.

“In this community, many parents expect their daughters to marry young instead of building careers,” Joan explains. “Many of my students already run small businesses, selling clothes, accessories, and other products. By teaching them digital business skills, we are giving them the tools to become financially independent and break this cycle.”

WIDB is not just empowering individual entrepreneurs—it’s cultivating a movement where knowledge, skills, and opportunity spread within communities. "When you gain knowledge, you don't keep it to yourself," says Fidelis Wangithi, a WIDB trainer in Koma Rock, Nairobi. "Women who complete the training either become trainers themselves or share what they’ve learned with others, creating a chain reaction of opportunity."

Since its launch, Women in Digital Business has trained over 930 lead trainers across 40 countries. The initiative has reached over 30,000 women entrepreneurs, and one-third of them have earned a certification, gaining access to advanced programmes, coaching, and mentorship. By embracing new digital skills, many of these entrepreneurs have expanded their customer base and significantly increased their income.

The WIDB program is evolving to address key challenges such as connectivity, digital skills development, and access to economic opportunities for women in developing countries. Microsoft is providing support to bridge the connectivity gap, expertise through digital and AI skilling curricula, post-training support, and improved economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs through connection to customers and partners.

As the initiative continues to expand, it showcases the power of digital skills to unlock opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Through WIDB, more women in rural Kenya are overcoming social and geographical barriers, transforming their businesses, and shaping a more inclusive digital future.

Women in Digital Business is an initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Training Center of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), and Microsoft Philanthropies.

Click here to learn more about how WIDB is empowering women and driving change.