Sanlam Kenya Adopts Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

On 28 May 2025, Sanlam Kenya officially signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), marking a significant step in its commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). The move reaffirmed Sanlam’s intention to embed GEWE across its operations within the workplace, marketplace, and the communities it serves.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles, developed by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, provide a globally recognized framework of seven principles designed to guide businesses in promoting inclusive leadership, equal opportunity, and accountability in gender performance. By signing on, companies pledge to align their strategies and operations with international standards for advancing gender equality.

Kenya currently has 145 Women’s Empowerment Principles signatories, placing it among the leading countries in Africa in terms of private sector engagement on gender equality. Globally, more than 11,400 companies have already endorsed the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Joining this growing network signals a company’s commitment to embedding gender equality and women’s empowerment into its core business practices. It equips businesses with practical tools and a global community of peers to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, creating value for both companies and society at large. With Sanlam’s addition, the private sector in Kenya gains another influential voice championing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The signing ceremony brought together Sanlam Kenya’s leadership and board members, reflecting high-level commitment to making gender equality a core part of the company’s strategy and sustainability agenda. Leaders underscored both the moral and business case for GEWE, highlighting the private sector's crucial role in driving inclusive development.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Women Kenya Country Representative, Elizabeth Obanda, who leads the Women’s Economic Empowerment program at UN Women Kenya, welcomed Sanlam to the global Women’s Empowerment Principles community. She emphasized that gender equality must be intentional and action-driven, shaping how organizations operate internally, engage with communities, and influence markets.

“We are intentional around gender equality and the empowerment of women in the way we run our organizations, engage with our communities, and operate in the marketplace,” she said.

UN Women urged Sanlam to translate its commitment into measurable action by leveraging Women’s Empowerment Principles tools and global best practices. This call to action reinforced the need for Sanlam to lead by example and champion GEWE within Kenya’s private sector.

Sanlam’s adoption of the Women’s Empowerment Principles is not only a milestone for the company but also a call for other businesses in Kenya to follow suit. By joining the WEPs community, companies can contribute to building a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable economy where both women and men thrive. We encourage other private sector players to take this bold step and sign on to the WEPs, ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment become a business priority across Kenya.

Watch the event here.