Technology Driving Financial Inclusion and Opportunities for Kenyan Women

On International Women’s Day, Peter Ndegwa highlights how technology is reshaping opportunities for women in Kenya. Digital tools are now crucial for learning, earning, and managing businesses, yet women in informal sectors still face significant access gaps. The GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report shows women in low- and middle-income countries are 14 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet, which limits participation in the digital economy. Despite this, platforms like Lipa Mdogo Mdogo and M-PESA have enabled women to manage finances, grow businesses, and access credit in ways traditional banking systems often do not allow. Over 70 percent of LMM users are women, while close to half of M-PESA users are women, demonstrating how mobile money fosters financial inclusion. When technology is designed around real needs, it empowers women to separate business from household finances, save, and access small loans. Initiatives like Ziidi Trader also create new investment and wealth-building opportunities. Ndegwa stresses that real progress comes when digital systems prioritize equity, dismantle barriers, and create sustained access for women. With intentional inclusion, technology can drive shared prosperity and help women actively shape Kenya’s digital future.