In Kenya’s transport and logistics industry, a bold new program is redefining the rules of engagement. For decades, Kenya’s transport and logistics sector has remained largely male-dominated with few opportunities for women to meaningfully participate.
But that’s beginning to change, thanks to an ambitious, values-driven initiative- She Delivers by Ponty Pridd Holdings Ltd, a participant with the UN Global Compact and a leading transport and logistics company specializing in long and short distance haulage to both local and export destinations in East Africa.
Launched to increase women's participation in Kenya’s transport and logistics sector, She Delivers has, in just two years, reshaped the narrative—empowering young women to confidently enter and excel in traditionally male-dominated fields. The initiative directly advances SDG 5 on gender equality and empowerment, a key pillar of the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Initiative.
As a male leader championing a women-centered program, Anthony Wainaina, Managing Director, Ponty Pridd Holdings smiles as he talks about the programs transformative impact. “When starting this program, we were looking at getting more women into the local industry, but this has morphed into us being part of a larger community of change-makers that is fostering a sense of belonging and purpose for women in our global industry.”
Anthony’s commitment exemplifies male allyship where men are actively using their platforms, influence, and power to dismantle structural barriers and create inclusive opportunities for women.
Launched in 2023, She Delivers was not packaged like another skills program says Program Director at Ponty Pridd Stella Mputhia, rather, “we set out to rewrite the industry narrative by creating spaces where women could step into an industry that, for too long, told them they didn’t belong.” To achieve this, the program is anchored on key pillars among them access, opportunity, skill, and empowerment; because research showed talent was not the problem, access was.
To ensure impact, the program widened the scope of access it offers, thus beyond technical knowhow, the program also gives the interns access to life-skills, networks, a community hub and a strong support system that ensures a continuous growth trajectory for all alumni.
Uniquely structured around industry nuances, She Delivers interns go through an immersive training that imparts both on-the-job training and life skills. It draws interns from various learning institutions, for up-skilling and specialization in driving, mechanics, ICT, Logistics and business operations where they train under dedicated mentors who walk with them every step of the way.
Cognizant that work related skills alone will not allow them to thrive; She Delivers infuses life-skills classes covering areas like emotional intelligence, communication, personal branding, financial literacy and mental health to complement the technical knowhow and graduate a well-rounded individual who is fit-for-market. This holistic approach aligns with SDG 4 on quality education, especially in ensuring inclusive and equitable learning opportunities.
Since its launch, and 2 cohorts down, the numbers are stacking up. She Delivers Program has produced 50 graduates of which 56% of the maiden class have secured formal employment, with Ponty Pridd absorbing 10% of that graduating class.
Further class sizes are growing, and we expect 31 students up from 25 for cohort 3. In addition to this, She Delivers Monitoring and Evaluation indicates that 87% of the ladies reported an increase in their personal confidence levels, which is attributed to the integration of the life-skills component into the program.
Sally, a trained driver from Cohort 1 and now employed at Ponty Pridd , shared her success story. “Many spoke and challenged my decision to drive long distance trucks as a woman based on my gender, but I dismissed their concerns. At the time of joining She Delivers, I could only drive 10-wheeler trucks, but today, I am doing solo trips driving trailers as far north as Kakuma, a reality that was unfathomable 2 years ago”. She said.
Sally, takes pride in having been recruited to join the Ponty pool of drivers as an employee and credits all these to the She Delivers Internship program. A testament that the program is indeed a game changer!
The thought that people think She Delivers is a glorified driving school couldn’t be further from the truth says Evalyn Waigumo, alumni of the program’s first cohort. “I never imagined I could get this far” and as she reminisces about her She Delivers journey from the cab of a 20-wheeler truck, “my standout moment is the applause I received from the staff at the Kisumu Coca Cola plant, as they rarely see a woman in the driver’s seat of a loaded truck offloading at their yard.”
“I realize now it’s not just about shifting gears,” Evalyn reflects. “It’s about shattering stereotypes and rewriting the narrative for myself and for the many girls and women willing to step out of the shadows and comfort zones. She Delivers has shown me the bigger picture, moving people and cargo creates jobs and keeps the economy running,” she adds.
Gloria Muthoka from Cohort 2 has an equally inspiring, yet unique story. Her love for understanding complex systems led her to pursue a career in business management, with a focus on the transport and logistics industry.
Gloria’s role as a business management intern gave her a glimpse and a hand into this world, seeing how processes are streamlined, appreciating cost reduction and enhancing sustainability in logistics, a sector that’s increasingly focused on minimizing its environmental footprint. This has a critical link to SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production and SDG 13 on Climate Action as logistics systems go green.
Today She Delivers stands tall by ensuring it gets more women behind the wheel, under the hood, behind the computer screens, at decision-making tables, and in positions of influence.
The impact has received acknowledgement and endorsements from numerous individuals, officials and organizations across the board, endorsements that can be summed up by this quote from Ms. Veronica Nduva former Permanent Secretary in charge of Gender, during the launch of the program.
Ms. Nduva observed “a formation of a vibrant Woman in Logistics Association is needed to support more women to join the transport ecosystems, and through programs like She Delivers we can address the stereotypes and practices that create outdated entry barriers and encourage more women to join, belong and thrive in the transport and logistics industry.”
She Delivers envisions a brighter future. As the program forges ahead, there is a commitment towards empowering women and transforming lives. With its focus on empowerment, collaboration, and advocacy, the program is well-positioned to drive positive change in the transport and logistics industry, ensuring women achieve their full potential and shape the sector's future.