Access Bank Kenya PLC and National Bank of Kenya have introduced the W Initiative in Kenya, a women-focused programme giving women-backed businesses broader access to finance, mentorship, and enterprise support.
Supported by Access Bank’s Africa-wide network, the initiative has already disbursed Sh18.23 trillion to women across its markets. Board Chair Barbara Barungi says the programme will set the pace for impact across the region.
The programme unveiled on Thursday already implemented across Access Bank’s footprint on the continent, is designed to give women broader access to finance while supporting them with the practical tools needed to build sustainable and competitive businesses.
According to the institutions, the W Initiative has already channelled Sh18.23 trillion to women across the Access Bank PLC network, reaffirming its scale and ambition.
Speaking during the unveiling, National Bank of Kenya and Access Bank Kenya Board Chair Barbara Barungi emphasised that the programme is rooted in the lived realities and aspirations of Kenyan women striving to grow their enterprises.
“The W Initiative is not just another product, it is a comprehensive ecosystem intentionally built around the realities, ambitions, and economic potential of Kenyan women,” she said.
Barungi added that Kenya’s pivotal role in the programme reflects both the strength of its entrepreneurial landscape and the growing demand for accessible financing among women-led ventures.
“Kenya will serve as a center of excellence for the rollout of this movement, setting the pace for impact across the region,” she noted.
The W Initiative brings together four pillars, financing, mentorship, business support, and community networks, to create an enabling environment where women can access capital while building the skills and confidence necessary to scale.
Its financial component offers tailored solutions for women-backed businesses in sectors ranging from retail and agriculture to services and manufacturing.
Beyond credit, the initiative is anchored on business advisory offerings including training sessions, one-on-one coaching, and access to opportunities that help entrepreneurs sharpen their operational and strategic capacity.
Equally central to the programme is its commitment to community-building. By connecting women to mentors, role models, and peer networks, the initiative seeks to accelerate economic empowerment through shared learning and collaborative growth.
Barungi highlighted the wider social value of investing in women-led enterprises, stating, “When women rise, communities rise, and this marks the beginning of many powerful stories yet to be written.”
Her remarks reflect the institution’s belief that empowering women generates ripple effects that strengthen households, communities, and national economies.
The W Initiative in Kenya is expected to build on the momentum seen across other African markets where the programme has expanded credit access, uplifted small and medium businesses, and increased financial inclusion for women, particularly those who traditionally face barriers to capital.
By integrating financing with mentorship and capacity-building, Access Bank Kenya and National Bank of Kenya are positioning the W Initiative as a strategic force for unlocking economic potential and driving inclusive growth.
For women entrepreneurs across the country, whether established or just emerging, the programme offers a platform to grow, compete, and thrive within a supportive and ambitious ecosystem.
As the initiative rolls out, its champions believe it will not only strengthen women-led enterprises but also set new benchmarks for equitable financial access in the region.
“This movement,” Barungi affirmed, “marks the beginning of many powerful stories yet to be written.”
