Along the Kisumu-Bondo Road, the tarmac snakes between the gentle hills, offering glimpses of the rich natural beauty that characterize the area. A few metres away, tents, swelling crowds and a heavy security presence signaled the day’s agenda led by a special guest.
Banners bearing the names of different brands also flutter briskly in the wind, adding colour and gaiety to the lively occasion.
The usually busy Kisian landscape in Kisumu West took on a celebratory mood as hundreds of women gathered for the Joyful Women’s event, their colourful outfits brightening the venue against the backdrop of the green countryside.
Groups of women arrived in clusters, greeting one another warmly, exchanging smiles and laughter and settling into tables as music and speeches filled the air.
Some, who were adorned in red lesos, took to the stage, dancing energetically to celebratory Luo songs, including the famous gospel song Otiyo Talingalinga. Their colourful attire and spirited moves added a festive touch to the gathering, as cheers and ululations from the crowd filled the venue.
The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and optimism, with women from different parts of Kisumu coming together to celebrate their shared experiences, savings, businesses and aspirations.
Beyond the lively proceedings, the gathering offered a glimpse into the growing role of women’s groups and table banking in helping families build more secure livelihoods.
Vuvuzelas blared, whistles rang out and ululations filled the air as First Lady Rachel Ruto took to the stage, sending the jubilant crowd at Kisian into a frenzy of cheers and celebration. That was the mood on Tuesday when the First Lady visited the Kisian area in Kisumu West for a women’s empowerment event.
Speaking during a Joyful Women Organization event, Rachel said bringing women together through savings groups helps overcome isolation while providing members with opportunities to learn from one another, access capital and build sustainable enterprises.
“When women come together, that isolation disappears. They find someone to learn from, someone to lean on and someone to walk with,” she said.
She said more than 70 small businesses organised into 13 groups in each ward had received micro-loans totaling Sh24 million through a revolving fund established under the Public Finance Management Act.
Rachel said the financial support was being complemented by training through the Department of Women, Youth and Social Services in partnership with Plan International and the Kenya Female Advisory Organization to equip beneficiaries with skills to effectively utilise the capital.
She said the initiative formed part of broader Government efforts to place women’s economic empowerment at the centre of the economic transformation agenda.
Rachel said the national Government was also implementing more than Sh44 billion worth of infrastructure and socio-economic projects in Kisumu County.
Among them is Sh34 billion for 14,000 affordable housing units, Sh1.5 billion to modernise landing beaches with cold storage facilities, and Sh3 billion towards the upgrading of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to a level Six hospital.
She said the investments in Kibuye and Jubilee markets, agro-aggregation hubs in Ahero and West Kano, as well as lake logistics through Kisumu Port, would create opportunities for women involved in agriculture, fishing and small businesses.
“Whether you are farming rice in the irrigation fields of Ahero, trading tilapia along our beach landings, or running a stall in the heart of our city, your labour is driving the economy of this region,” she said.
Rachel also announced support targeting vulnerable families, including the distribution of 1,005 blankets, 20 bags of Uji mix (porridge flour), 40 boxes of soap and 100 mattresses, among other relief items.
She said 10,000 fruit seedlings, including 5,000 mango and 5,000 orange seedlings, together with 5,000 vegetable seedlings, would be distributed to support food production, enterprise and stronger livelihoods. In addition, 20 water tanks would be donated to various schools in the area.
Rachel commended the 59 Joyful Women groups in Kisumu, which bring together 365 members, urging them to actively use table banking to grow their enterprises and encourage more women to join.
“I encourage every member to use the table banking system actively, grow her enterprise and invite more women to join, because the more women we bring on board, the more families and communities we empower,” she said.
She urged women who had not joined Joyful Women to join existing groups and encouraged members to bring other women on board.
“Together, let us save. Together, let us learn. Together, let us grow. Together, let us succeed,” she said.
Rachel also invited Joyful Women members to attend the Spiritual Joyful Women celebrations scheduled for November in Nairobi.
“Let us save together, grow together and prosper together, because the more, the merrier,” she said.
For beneficiaries, the impact of Joyful Women is being felt beyond the figures, with members saying the initiative has given them greater confidence, financial independence and an opportunity to support other women in their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, known as Mama Nyabungu, who joined the organisation in May 2026, said she had already experienced significant personal growth after learning how to organize women into groups, practice table banking and generate income from their activities.
“Joyful Women has boosted my self-esteem. I have worked hard to reach and support many other women, about ten of them in different groups and churches. I have used my home as a hub, and in just four months since we started, we have formed many groups and visited many others because of the work we are doing,” she said.
She said the programme had also changed the way women approached household finances, enabling them to contribute to their families rather than depend entirely on their husbands.
“As Joyful Women members, we never give up. I joined Joyful Women in May 2026, imagine, recently, but I have grown so much. Our women in churches and groups can now do table banking and learn how to generate income from the work they are doing. We are no longer relying on other people. Today, we are helping our husbands because we are doing our part,” she said.
The beneficiary thanked the First Lady for bringing Joyful Women to Kisumu and invited her to visit the Orongo area to witness the programmes impact at the grassroots.
“I thank you for gracing this occasion and supporting the women of Kenya. I extend an invitation to you to come to Orongo so that you can see more of what is happening. You are a mother to everybody and every group. When you visit us, you will see what is happening at the grassroots level,” she urged.
Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO), founded in 2009 by First Lady Rachel Ruto, is a women’s economic empowerment organisation that promotes financial inclusion through table banking.
The organisation brings women together in savings groups where they pool resources, access credit and invest in income-generating activities. Its programmes also cover entrepreneurship, agriculture, skills development and market access, with the aim of strengthening women’s financial independence.
JOYWO has expanded its grassroots network to 44 counties, bringing together more than 250,000 women in over 17,000 groups, with approximately Sh3.9 billion in revolving funds.
Through the table-banking model, members make regular contributions and can access loans to support businesses and other income-generating activities, while the groups provide a platform for women to build financial resilience and support one another.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku and Dorothy Pamella
