By Aoma Keziah,
Busu Naturals, an SME that manufactures local emollients which cater to sensitive African, has been named the winner of the She’s Next Kenya Grant Competition, a program aimed at supporting the creation of an inclusive, equitable world where women business owners can flourish. The seeks to support women-owned small businesses through funding, training, and mentorship.
Busu Naturals, received a KES 2.5 million monetary prize, with Timao Group and Code with Kids winning KES 2 million and KES 1 million respectively, for 2nd and 3rd place.
“We are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugral She’s Next Kenya grant competition. We are proud to recognise these SMEs who have exhibited remarkable innovation, resilience and vision, which will serve them well in as they seek to positively contribute to the Kenyan economy. We are excited about walking this journey with them to see them hit new heights using the skills and strategies the She’s Next program will equip them with,” said Eva Ngigi-Sarwari, Visa Kenya Country Manager.
More than 2,300 SMEs from across the country applied for the competition, each with innovative solutions in the sectors they operate in.
Emma Omany, CEO of Busu Naturals, speaking on the win said, “This win means a lot to us because it gives us confidence and affirms that we are on the right track. It is a testament to the fact that small steps matter and that everything we have done thus far is aiding our mission. The support we will get through this grant and training, will help us grow our capacity and expand our market reach. It shall also go a long way in generating impact for us since we are focused on creating more opportunities for the women and youth in our value chain”. She noted
Crafts with Meaning and Cladfy each walked away with KES 500,000 as recognition for their participation in the competition.
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year.
Mt Kenya Times