Edge Three Sixty Ltd hosted a milestone dinner event in July 2024, bringing together key stakeholders to celebrate the milestones of the Mrembo Imara Debt Access Project. This event gathered various lenders, development partners, women network leaders, and women business owners to share the achievements of the two-year initiative. The evening’s chief guest was the British High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Neil Wigan.
During the event, attendees learned about the project’s impressive outcomes, including unlocking over KSh 44 million in financing for women business owners. A highlight of the evening was hearing firsthand stories from the beneficiaries of the Mrembo Imara program. Linnet, a restaurant owner in Nairobi, shared how she struggled to secure adequate financing due to collateral challenges but was able to access ten times more funding after gaining confidence and business acumen through the program. Similarly, Terry Jane from Eldamaravine in Baringo County spoke about how financing enabled her to hire nine employees and expand her business to new locations.
The event also featured a speech from an ABSA representative, emphasizing their commitment to helping women access better financing. Additionally, the UK Kenya Tech Hub team and the High Commissioner expressed their dedication to supporting women entrepreneurs and the continuation of initiatives like Mrembo Imara.
Looking ahead, there is a clear need to scale the Mrembo Imara project to reach more women and more counties. Edge Three Sixty Ltd is excited about what the future holds.