Association For Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIK)

💥 Transformers — What a Fitting Name! 💥 Congratulations to all the The Toolkit for Skills and Innovation graduates! 🎉 What an inspiring and joy-filled celebration, a true reflection of transformation, resilience, and the power of skills. The name Transformers couldn’t be more perfect for the Toolkit community — graduates, trainees, and trainers who are boldly shaping the future through skill, integrity, and innovation. Over 100 trainees graduated — and an impressive 70% are already employed! What a powerful testament to Toolkit’s commitment to nurturing competent, confident, and globally competitive graduates who are ready to take on opportunities anywhere in the world. It was an honour to have Priscilla Kerebi, Director of EDSOURCE AFRICA & InnovateHER Kenya among the guests making remarks reminding the graduates to: 💡 Keep learning — the world is changing fast, and your willingness to learn new skills will keep you ahead. 🤝 Build networks — stay connected with your trainers, classmates, and mentors; opportunities often come through people. 🚀 Be proactive — don’t wait for doors to open; knock, ask questions, and create your own pathways. We also celebrated the incredible leadership of Jane Muigai Kamphuis, the visionary Director of The Toolkit for Skills and Innovation, alongside Chief Guest Caroline Njuki and many distinguished partners and guests who joined in marking this milestone moment. The message from the day was clear and powerful: ✨ Integrity matters. 🌍 Be ready for the global market. 💡 There’s no shortage of jobs — only a shortage of relevant skills. Caroline Njuki challenged us to demystify skilling and believe in ourselves as Africans. “We admire other countries because of quality,” she said. “Let’s build that same quality here. Stop making technical jobs look bad — lets change the perception - what’s happening here today proves their true value.” She urged young people to use social media and the internet wisely, not just for entertainment, but to learn new skills and languages, and reminded parents to be intentional about guiding their children toward in-demand skills and meaningful careers. The Transformers are proof that the future of work in Africa is bright — built by capable hands, confident minds, and communities that believe in the power of skills. 🌟 Anastacia Wambuli Mutheu KasangaEunice ChegeDennis Muchiri, PMP®Michelle Mwambela Laura Wekesa MCIM #ToolkitGraduation #Transformers #InnovateHER #EdsourceAfrica #SkillsDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment #WomenInSkilling #TVET #FutureOfWork #PartnershipsThatTransform

Today I sat in a room with women who are rewriting the narrative,daring to dream bigger, walk taller and build lives rooted in purpose and power. Real empowerment starts from within, in the boldness to evolve to create wealth with intention and to lead with both strength and grace. The session was more of a discovery of who I actually am. It’s often times easier to progress from a point of self awareness. Knowing how to tap into the strengths of the different seasons of life is going to be a game changer for me. This was more than a workshop, it’s a movement. Women owning their voices, shaping their futures and lifting others as they rise. Thank you Association For Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIK), African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative for making this session possible. Looking forward to more of such engagements.

How Batteries Could Spark an Energy Revolution in Africa Over 600 million Africans still live without access to electricity yet, across the continent, a quiet revolution is taking shape, powered by innovation in battery technology. On October 9, 2025, Strathmore University’s School of Computing and Engineering Sciences convened academia, government, private sector leaders, and development partners for a Battery Technology Workshop to explore how batteries can anchor Africa’s distributed renewable energy future. ““There is an urgent need for energy access, with nearly 600 million Africans still without electricity,” said Jon Exel, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank Group. Jon Exel, Senior Energy Specialist at the The World Bank Group. Yet, he struck a hopeful tone, envisioning a future where innovation in battery technology becomes the catalyst for exponential progress across the continent. Through the Mission 300 initiative, the World Bank and African Development Bank Group aim to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, half of them through Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) systems. The workshop also featured insights from: ✅Eng. Dr. Julius Butime, Dean, SCES, on the rise of e-mobility and the need for collaboration across government, academia, and industry. ✅Francis Romano, CEO of Drive Electric & Knights and Apps, on second-life batteries and Kenya’s EV potential. ✅Winfred Kimuya of KEBS, who emphasised the importance of battery management systems and safety compliance. ✅Dr. K.V. Rop, PhD., who led a panel exploring market trends, policy gaps, and opportunities in the battery ecosystem. Indeed, Africa’s energy future will be built not by one institution or one technology but through collective innovation, research, and partnership. #EnergyAccess #BatteryTechnology #RenewableEnergy Neema Oribo | Cynthia Mkabane | UNESCO Chair Strathmore