Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has been recognized for making strides towards accelerating diversity in the workplace and communities where they operate. The brewer was declared overall winner for Women Empowerment in the Workplace, Women Empowerment in Communities, and crowned Champion for Gender Mainstreaming in East Africa, at the 9th Gender Mainstreaming Awards (GMA).
The awards seek to encourage stakeholders in the private sector to buy into the diversity and inclusion agenda through steering for a more meaningful representation of women in the mainstream of business. The awards focused on three main regions namely, Southern Africa, East Africa, and West Africa.
“We believe that the most inclusive and diverse culture makes for a better business and a better world. At KBL, we have made huge strides in championing inclusion and diversity across our entire value chain from grain to glass – working with our partners and communities. We are excited for this win, which recognizes our efforts towards ensuring a more inclusive and tolerant society”, said KBL MD, John Musunga.
“Our outstanding initiatives recognized by the GMA include Six months maternity leave policy that allows female employees to raise young families and thrive at work; Spirited Women program that promotes career development for female employees; Apprentice program for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) aimed at shifting gender representation within the manufacturing sector; Commercial graduate program that targets to give women an opportunity to extensively gain hand-on experience in commerce fields”, added Mr. Musunga.
KBL was also recognized for the role they play in empowering women in society. The company works with over 47,000 local farmers in the country (largely in poor and marginalized localities in arid and semi-arid areas) who supply the brewer with sorghum and barley for the production of beer. Of these, 50% are women, and this program has provided them with an opportunity to earn a decent income, fend for their families and cater for basic needs.