Merck Foundation marks JOYWO’s 16 years of women’s economic empowerment work

Merck Foundation has recognised the Joyful Women Organisation (JOYWO) as it marks 16 years of promoting women’s economic empowerment in Kenya, highlighting the continued impact of community-based table-banking groups in expanding women’s financial access across the country.

In a statement, the Foundation congratulated Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, who serves as JOYWO’s patron and has been a central figure in advancing the group’s financial inclusion agenda.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), the CEO of Merck Foundation, said the anniversary reflects sustained community work that has allowed women to build financial resilience and start income-generating ventures.

“Congratulations to Mama Rachel Ruto and Joyful Women Organization on this remarkable milestone, sixteen years of empowering women, strengthening communities, and driving real change is truly an achievement to be celebrated,” she stated.

JOYWO was established to support women through table banking, a practice where group members gather to save, lend, and access credit directly from pooled funds without relying on formal banking institutions.

Over the years, the model has become one of the most widely adopted grassroots financing approaches among Kenyan women, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where access to credit remains limited.

The Foundation noted that table-banking circles have enabled women to start small businesses, support their households, invest in farming, and cushion themselves against financial shocks.

These initiatives, it said, have contributed to broader community stability and local economic activity. a.”

Alongside economic empowerment, Merck Foundation outlined several collaborative programmes with the Office of the First Lady aimed at building Kenya’s healthcare capacity.

According to the Foundation, 295 scholarships have so far been offered to Kenyan healthcare workers in 44 critical and underserved specialties.

These include areas where the country faces pronounced shortages, such as oncology, reproductive health, and endocrinology.

The aim is to increase the number of specialists available in county hospitals and expand access to quality care.

Dr. Kelej added: “We celebrate Mama Rachel’s visionary leadership and partnership in building a more inclusive, prosperous Kenya.

The Foundation also announced plans to provide nearly 100 scholarships for one-year postgraduate diplomas in critical nutrition for doctors across all 47 counties over the next four years.

The training initiative aligns with the First Lady’s “Feed One, End Hunger” programme, which focuses on improving nutrition outcomes, especially among vulnerable households.

By building clinical capacity in nutrition, the programme aims to strengthen early detection and management of malnutrition, which remains a significant public health challenge in parts of the country.

Merck Foundation’s education initiatives extend beyond the health sector.

Through its “Educating Linda” programme, the Foundation offers annual scholarships to 47 underprivileged schoolgirls from across Kenya.

The support is intended to reduce dropout rates and help girls from low-income backgrounds continue their education through secondary school.

As JOYWO marks 16 years, its table-banking model continues to influence women’s economic groups nationally, with many counties replicating similar structures to expand financial access.

The organisation’s longevity signals both sustained community trust and the ongoing need for informal financial systems that serve women who remain excluded from traditional lending.

Dr. Kelej closed the Foundation’s message by reaffirming its support, saying: “Congratulations once again on 16 years of impact, here’s to many more! #JoyfulAt16.”

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