Across Kenya, women-owned businesses continue to play a critical role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting households.
From small retail shops and agribusiness ventures to manufacturing enterprises and large-scale trading firms, women entrepreneurs are increasingly making their mark in the economy.
Despite their growing influence, access to affordable and flexible financing remains one of the biggest challenges facing women in business.
Limited collateral, inadequate working capital and difficulties in accessing growth financing often slow down expansion plans and prevent promising enterprises from reaching their full potential.
To bridge this gap, Equity Bank’s Fanikisha programme offers tailored financial solutions designed specifically for women entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey.
Whether a business is just starting out or has grown into a large enterprise, Fanikisha provides financing, business support, mentorship and networking opportunities aimed at helping women achieve sustainable growth.
The programme is structured into four categories that cater to businesses based on their age and turnover.
- Shaba – For Start-Up Women Entrepreneurs
Shaba is designed for women running businesses that have been in operation for less than 12 months.
The package provides access to business loans of up to Sh10 million backed by a 100 percent cash guarantee from individuals such as family members or friends.
Entrepreneurs can also access up to 80 percent Local Purchase Order (LPO) financing, enabling them to fulfil business contracts and grow their enterprises.
Additionally, customers can access instant mobile loans ranging from Sh100 to Sh3 million through Equitel, the Equity Mobile App, or *247*6#.
Beyond financing, Shaba members benefit from affordable health cover for their families, debit and credit card solutions, mobile banking services, PayPal withdrawal capabilities and free payment collection through One Equity Till Number.
The package also offers entrepreneurship training, mentorship programmes and networking opportunities that allow women to learn from successful business leaders across sectors such as agriculture, education and healthcare.
- Dhahabu – Supporting Growing Businesses
Dhahabu targets women entrepreneurs whose businesses have operated for more than 12 months and generate annual turnover of up to Sh50 million.
Under this category, customers can access business loans of up to Sh10 million based on cash flow performance, LPO financing of up to 80 percent and instant mobile loans of up to Sh3 million.
A key feature of Dhahabu is access to unsecured ecosystem working capital solutions of up to Sh10 million, helping businesses address cash flow needs without relying heavily on collateral.
Members also enjoy premium banking services, including Mastercard Platinum and Visa Gold cards, higher credit card limits of up to Sh1 million, mobile banking services and free payment collection solutions.
Like Shaba, the package includes health insurance options, entrepreneurship training, mentorship and networking opportunities designed to help businesses scale to the next level.
- Almasi – Powering Established Enterprises
Almasi is tailored for women running businesses that have operated for more than 24 months and record annual turnover between Sh51 million and Sh800 million.
The package offers unsecured business loans of up to Sh10 million based on cash flows, unsecured ecosystem working capital facilities of up to Sh250 million and instant mobile loans of up to Sh3 million.
Women entrepreneurs can also access financing solutions for suppliers and distributors, helping strengthen their value chains and support expansion efforts.
Additional benefits include unsecured bid bonds of up to Sh10 million processed within one hour, tailored health cover, premium banking cards with airport lounge access and credit card limits of up to Sh3 million.
Almasi customers further benefit from Equity Online for Business, e-commerce support through Jenga Payment Gateway and APIs, as well as opportunities to explore international markets through trade missions and business networking platforms.
- Platini – Financing Large Businesses
At the top tier of the Fanikisha programme is Platini, a solution developed for women-led enterprises with annual turnover exceeding Sh800 million.
The package offers unsecured loan limits based on working capital requirements and access to unsecured ecosystem working capital facilities of up to Sh250 million.
Customers can also access mobile loans of up to Sh3 million and financing solutions for suppliers, distributors and retail partners.
Other benefits include unsecured bid bonds processed within one hour, tailored health cover, premium Mastercard World Elite and Visa Infinite cards, online banking services and access to international trade opportunities.
The package also supports digital business growth through Jenga Payment Gateway and APIs, enabling seamless e-commerce transactions while helping businesses scale beyond local markets.
Also Read: Unlocking East African trade: How the ITC-Equity partnership empowers MSMEs
