Ongoing
When Women Thrive, Communities Flourish
Women are the backbone of the Mwiki community — they raise children, manage households, and often run informal businesses while juggling enormous domestic responsibilities. Yet women remain disproportionately excluded from formal financial systems, business training, and decision-making spaces. One Vision CBO's Women Economic Empowerment Programme exists to change that — one group at a time.
The Table Banking Model
Table banking is a proven, community-led savings and credit model that has transformed livelihoods across Kenya. Women meet regularly — weekly or fortnightly — contribute a fixed savings amount, pool their funds on the table, and lend to members at affordable interest rates. Unlike formal bank loans, table banking is accessible, flexible, and built on trust within the community.
One Vision CBO has helped establish and formally register four table banking groups in Mwiki, with a combined membership of 68 women. Each group has its own constitution, elected officials, and savings ledger — creating transparent, accountable structures that women control entirely.
Beyond Savings — Building Business Skills
Our programme goes beyond just savings. We provide structured training in:
- Business Planning & Record Keeping: How to write a simple business plan, track income and expenses, and separate business money from household money.
- Market Linkages: Connecting women to markets, bulk suppliers, and digital selling platforms (WhatsApp Business, Facebook Marketplace) to expand their customer base.
- Legal Business Registration: Supporting women to register their businesses with relevant county and national authorities, unlocking access to government tenders and formal credit.
- Leadership & Confidence Building: Mentorship sessions, motivational talks, and peer learning that help women see themselves as capable entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Stories of Change
Among our programme participants is Grace W., a mother of three who used her first table banking loan of KSh 5,000 to stock her small grocery kiosk. Within six months, she had repaid the loan, tripled her stock, and hired a part-time assistant. Another member used her loan to purchase a second-hand sewing machine — she now supplies school uniforms to two local schools on contract.
Scaling Up in 2026
We plan to establish two additional groups in 2026, targeting women in the most underserved pockets of Mwiki, and to pilot a micro-insurance scheme to protect members against losses from illness, theft, or business disruption. We are also in discussions with a Nairobi-based microfinance institution to provide top-up loans to our highest-performing groups.