Paul Arithi 
Stanbic Foundation Expands Women Economic Empowerment Through ‘DADA MASHINANI’ Program;
- The program has disbursed over KES 100M in catalytic funding and trained over 64,000 women in critical business skills.
- The program aims to remove systemic barriers and offer women dignity and control over their financial futures.
- Stanbic has reaffirmed its purpose-driven goal to foster grassroots growth by investing in the women who anchor Kenya’s economy.
Stanbic Bank Kenya is reaffirming its commitment to women’s economic empowerment, through its ‘Dada Mashinani’ program.
In a powerful demonstration of its purpose to drive Kenya’s growth, the bank announced that the program has disbursed over KES 100 million in loans in 2025, providing a vital lifeline to women entrepreneurs historically excluded from formal financial systems.
Speaking during a beneficiary visit at Gikomba, Dr. Joshua Oigara, the Regional Chief Executive, East Africa, Standard Bank, emphasized the Bank’s commitment to advancing equitable economic participation.
“Women are the backbone of Kenya’s service and microenterprise sector.Through Dada Mashinani, we are removing barriers that have historically limited women’s access to capital and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive.
The achievements of this program are in the stories of resilience, dignity, and ambition we see every day. Our purpose is to drive Kenya’s growth, and that begins by investing in the people who form the backbone of our economy.This program is an enabler of that mission.”
During the visit, County officials from Kisumu and Kisii celebrated the Foundation’s partnership with various counties, citing this as a critical driver of inclusive growth.
The visit comes as the Stanbic Kenya Foundation marks its 5th anniversary, a significant milestone that reflects five years of investing in Kenya’s social and economic progress.
Since 2020, the Stanbic Foundation has implemented nationwide initiatives to drive financial inclusion, digital upskilling, job creation, and enterprise growth, with Dada Mashinani as one of the impact pathways.
“Our commitment has always been to remove the systemic barriers that limit women’s access to capital, skills, and opportunity.
Through Dada Mashinani and other empowerment programs under the Foundation, we are equipping women with the tools to grow sustainable businesses and create lasting impact in their communities.
As we mark five years of the Stanbic Kenya Foundation, we are proud of the progress we have made in expanding economic opportunities for women across Kenya.” Added Lilian Onyach, the Acting Head of the Stanbic Kenya Foundation.
Dada Mashinani, which was launched in 2024, is expected to reach 5 million underserved women over seven years, leveraging data-enabled credit scoring models to address the collateral challenges that have historically excluded women from formal financial systems.
Through the program, low-income micro and small-scale women entrepreneurs in groups and in trade, can access concessional and commercial loans, financial literacy training, and capacity-building, helping them become more economically active and better positioned for long-term progress.
Dada Mashinani is also aligned with the Bank’s sustainability agenda, which focuses on improving financial inclusion, job creation, and enterprise growth across Kenya.
