Our CEO, Valentin Post, and our COO, Nouria Ouibrahim, had the incredible honor of meeting Rachel Ruto, the First Lady of Kenya, on Monday, the 8th of May. The discussions with the First Lady and her delegation touched on several critical areas, Rachel Ruto being a thought leader on environment and climate action, financial inclusion and women empowerment.

The First Lady, who founded the Joyful Women Organization, expressed keen interest in leveraging technology to enhance financial inclusion. Together, we explored the potential of using our FINISH Mondial approach (The Diamond Approach) to link informal lending groups to the formal sector, with the objective of transforming countless lives and uplift communities across Kenya.

Recognising the pivotal role of sanitation in family health, we also delved into the possibility of prioritising sanitation or WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) as a sector for lending. By collaborating notably with Mama Doing Good, we aim to create employment opportunities within the sanitation sector, while fostering a cleaner and healthier environment.

Another important topic of discussion was the sanitation circular economy, where waste can be safely transformed into valuable inputs. This approach offers remarkable climate impacts, and our ongoing efforts in the agricultural sector align with the vision expressed by the First Lady. By bringing together various sectors and ministries, including energy, we will be able to lead the charge in building a sustainable future for Kenya.

The Chief of Staff of the First Lady’s office applauded the meeting, emphasising the relevance of the 5-C approach—Convene, Connect, Collaborate, Catalyse, and Celebrate. Many of these “C’s” were explored during the meeting, paving the way for future collaboration and positive change.

We are honoured to have had this opportunity and look forward to working closely with the First Lady and her delegation to bring these transformative ideas to fruition. Together, we can make a lasting impact on Kenya’s society, economy, and environment!