Empowered to Empower: How Ruth Osebe Michoma is Opening Procurement Doors for Women with Disabilities
Date:
In collaboration with the Government of Kenya, UN Women Kenya launched a gender-responsive procurement (GRP) initiative under its Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) programme in 2024. This flagship programme is generously funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with $15 million under the UAE-UN Women Strategic Partnership Framework 2024 –2027, and aims to accelerate gender equality and women’s economic empowerment by increasing women’s access to public and private procurement opportunities.
Through this partnership, UN Women and the UAE are working together to support women entrepreneurs, strengthen inclusive supply chains, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
Ruth Osebe Michoma, a spirited entrepreneur living with disability, is redefining what resilience looks like in Kenya’s business landscape. As the managing director of Rosebe Enterprises and Rosebe Agencies Limited, Ruth is one of the many women whose lives have been transformed through this initiative.
Women continue to encounter significant challenges in accessing assets and productive resources, finance, education and training, which translates to an over-representation of women in low-wage, low-skilled and precarious employment.
Her business journey began in 2008. However, it was not until she joined the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) programme, that reserves 30 per cent of public procurement contracts for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, that she discovered a pathway designed to uplift women and persons with disabilities.
“I used to be timid,” Ruth confesses, “Today, I walk into any office with confidence.”
Backed by UN Women’s consistent mentorship and training through its GRP initiative, and networking through the Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum, Ruth has built more than just a business. She has built a legacy of empowerment.
“The trainings helped me understand the paperwork process, navigate tender applications, and effectively manage my business. Through GRP, my turnover has improved, and I have mentored over 25 other women into entrepreneurship, but the path has not been smooth,” she says.
Ruth highlighted the silent barriers faced by women and persons with disabilities in the business world, such as limited access to finance and markets, inaccessible office buildings and parking spaces, complexities of tax compliance, and delays in government payments among others.
Through the partnership between UN Women and the UAE, more inclusive procurement solutions are being developed by working closely with government and private sector actors. This includes facilitating access to finance and markets, advocating for simplified and standardized documentation processes, supporting the timely payment of suppliers, promoting physical and digital accessibility for women and persons with disabilities, and strengthening policy dialogue that places women entrepreneurs at the centre of decision-making.
“Some women give up too early. Procurement is not a one-day affair. You need the right documentation, persistence, and most of all, confidence,” Ruth emphasizes.
Ruth’s advocacy goes beyond her own gains. She is calling on the government and corporate partners to simplify and standardize documentation requirements for women and persons with disabilities, fast-track payment processes, and include suppliers in policy-making discussions.
“The government and private sector should lessen the documentation burden and improve payment timelines to make procurement more inclusive,” she explains. “The private sector should standardize their procurement processes to make bidding across different institutions easy and simple.”
She is also advocating for more awareness about the realities faced by women in rural areas and those with disabilities when accessing digital platforms.
Despite the challenges, Ruth stands tall as a beacon of hope, “I no longer fear. I now train other women on tendering and delivery of quality services. It is not just about winning tenders but sustaining your business and inspiring others.”
As Kenya continues to push for inclusive economic policies, Ruth’s confidence and leadership are a testament to the power of inclusive policymaking and targeted support. Her story reflects a growing movement of women who are not only participating in procurement but shaping its future.