Empowering Women with Disabilities: A Social Empowerment Story

By Bethany Peevy Downie

When illness ended Stella King'ori's career as a teacher, she faced a harsh reality. In Kenya, women with disabilities encounter significant barriers to economic independence. Through an innovative business training program, Stella transformed her small retail business, achieving 900% revenue growth and creating jobs for others.

Stella’s Story

In a matter of months, Stella King’ori’s hard-earned career as a music and French teacher was gone. A devastating illness damaged her physical and cognitive abilities, leading to severe hearing loss and causing her to spend months rehabilitating the use of her hands. Her mother, Lucy, left her job as a nurse to care for her as Stella adjusted to living with multiple disabilities.

Breaking Down Barriers Faced by Women With Disabilities in Kenya

After losing her career as a respected French teacher, Stella’s adjustment to life with a disability was not easy. In Kenya, many people hold misconceptions about disabilities. Some believe that a person with a disability is cursed, leading families to keep them hidden. In other cases, these individuals are denied access to education and other opportunities. Educators and employers sometimes perceive people with disabilities as incapable or worry about the added costs of making workplaces accessible.

The Economic Impact on Women With Disabilities in Kenya

These stigmas severely limit economic opportunities. According to the 2025 U.N. Development Program Disability Inclusion Status Report, 41% of individuals with disabilities participate in the Kenyan labor force, compared with 73% of the general population. This lack of accessible jobs and education has led to higher poverty rates among persons with disabilities. While national poverty levels in Kenya dropped to 30% in 2023, 38% of individuals with disabilities still live below the poverty line. With additional limitations due to their gender, women with disabilities are particularly likely to lack access to nutritious food, health care, and capital.

How Business Opportunities Create Social Empowerment

With so many barriers to accessing work, it is understandable that women like Stella feel the odds are stacked against them. However, some have found social empowerment through business opportunities. Stella’s parents recognized this possibility for their daughter.

Building Social Empowerment Through Small Business Development

To compensate for the loss of Lucy’s nursing income, Stella’s father helped her mother open a neighborhood hardware store. After some time, the couple encouraged Stella to start her own small business within the shop. Marie Stella Paradise was born: a small retail store where Stella sold food, drinks, and beauty products. Running her own business became a pathway to social empowerment and economic independence. Still, at an average of $3.90 per week, her initial profits were very low.

Challenges Facing Women With Disabilities in Kenya’s Business Sector

Stella also had few peers in business. Only 4.3% of Kenya’s micro-enterprises are owned by individuals with disabilities. These entrepreneurs face significant barriers to accessing startup capital, markets, and business support. Many individuals struggle to balance the financial burden of medical expenses with their business investments. Additionally, the physical demands of running a retail store may necessitate accommodations or caregiver support for tasks involving communication or physical activity.

Inclusive Business Programs Supporting Social Empowerment

Nevertheless, Stella found counsel and community. A friend referred her to join the Global Labor Program – Inclusive Futures, or GLP-IF, a collaboration between TechnoServe and Sightsavers to empower women business owners with disabilities.

The program delivered comprehensive capacity building in essential areas, including bookkeeping, inventory management, marketing, and customer service. But it went one step further, tailoring the experience to fit the needs of the retailers. TechnoServe provided Braille and large-print materials, accessible venues with ramps, flexible scheduling to accommodate medical needs, and support for caregivers attending sessions. For Stella, having a sign language interpreter present meant that she could actively engage in the training.

The program also facilitated crucial market linkages and access to finance. TechnoServe assisted the entrepreneurs in accessing the value chains of large companies like Coca-Cola and procuring business assets like cooler boxes, refrigerators, and patio furniture. With access to finance and ongoing advisory support, the businesses eased into market entry, avoiding the pressure of upfront investment.

Connecting Women With Disabilities in Kenya to Government Support

In addition to business training and accommodations, the GLP-IF program helped retailers access government benefits to support their enterprises. The program assisted women in registering with the National Council for Persons with Disability, which offers tax exemptions, assistive devices, and subsidized health care. The registration process is often lengthy and challenging, particularly for those without internet access. TechnoServe addressed this barrier by bringing council representatives directly to training sessions. The program also connected retailers with umbrella organizations for people with disabilities, expanding their support networks beyond the business training.

The GLP-IF program strongly emphasized inclusive business design, encouraging retailers to adapt their environments through:

• One-on-one coaching sessions: TechnoServe business counselors guide retailers in identifying barriers and developing personalized solutions, including monthly business visits to support ongoing progress.
• Peer learning forums: Entrepreneurs with similar disabilities exchange ideas on effective accommodations.
• Training modules: The modules integrate principles of universal design, promoting accessible and low-cost solutions, such as signage, adapted shop layouts, and accessible digital tools.

Economic Empowerment in Action: Stella’s Transformation

Within a month of joining the program, Stella joined Coca-Cola’s value chain as a retailer. As a result, her weekly revenue grew to $39, a 900% increase. Her new cooler box, patio table set, and refrigerator all supported her growth, allowing her to expand to a full-service retail shop. Her business also provides financial services through M-Pesa and KCB Mtaani.

Stella maintains a loyal customer base. Being hard of hearing, her business advisor suggested that she ask her customers to communicate with her by writing in a notebook. Her customers have adapted quickly, and this accommodation has strengthened their trust and loyalty.

Stella has also developed a community of peers to learn from and grow with. Following the training, she and other participants formed a business group to continue networking, peer learning, and mentorship. The group operates a revolving fund from member savings, providing access to short-term loans and fostering opportunities for collaboration with financial institutions and other market actors.

How Social Empowerment Creates Ripple Effects for Women With Disabilities in Kenya

Stella’s success extends beyond her own transformation. With the expansion of her business from selling basic goods, she now employs two people and sells homemade cookies made by other women in the community. She is a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities in her community and writes a publication focused on inclusion and accessibility. Stella has also returned to the academic setting — this time as a PhD student in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resource Management. Determined to create opportunities for others, she is pursuing research on diversity and inclusion in the marketplace for individuals with disabilities. Stella is also back to teaching, volunteering as a French and Music teacher at her church. After overcoming significant obstacles, the teacher is once again empowering others in more ways than one.

Changing Perceptions of Women With Disabilities in Kenya

Stella’s impact represents something larger: a shift in how her society views individuals with disabilities. The GLP-IF retailers are challenging misconceptions through their business success. Coca-Cola distributors, who may have initially questioned working with retailers who have disabilities, now recognize the strong sales volumes these entrepreneurs achieve.

This recognition is extending into government. The Kisumu governor has engaged directly with the women in the program, consulting them on policy development and reserving positions for people with disabilities on marketplace committees. Government officials are no longer making decisions about individuals with disabilities without including their voices, a meaningful step toward genuine inclusion.

Expanding Social Empowerment Programs for Women With Disabilities in Kenya

The women in the GLP-IF program have proven what is possible by removing barriers and achieving their potential. Over 500 women entrepreneurs with disabilities strengthened their businesses through targeted support, with more than 400 successfully joining Coca-Cola’s retail network.

Building on this success, TechnoServe has launched the Resilience for Women with Disabilities through Micro-retail Development Support (REWARDS) program, specifically targeting business owners with disabilities who have existing small businesses. This new initiative aims to build their capacity while sharing their stories, recognizing their historical exclusion as a step toward broader inclusivity.

But creating truly inclusive programming requires additional investment. TechnoServe dedicates 5% to 10% of the program budget to accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, accessible venues, and flexible scheduling. The program is not fully funded, and without continued support, we risk losing momentum at a time when perceptions are shifting and opportunities are expanding.

Your contribution can help ensure that 650 more women with disabilities receive the business training and market connections they need to build sustainable enterprises. These entrepreneurs have the skills and determination to succeed — they just need continued access to resources that level the playing field. 

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