Merck Foundation Celebrates 16 Years of Joyful Women Empowerment in Kenya
Merck Foundation has congratulated Kenya’s First Lady, H.E. Mama Rachel Ruto, and the Joyful Women Organisation (JOYWO) as they celebrate 16 years of driving women’s economic empowerment across the country.
Senator Dr Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation, praised the milestone, noting that JOYWO’s table-banking model and community-driven initiatives have enabled thousands of women to start businesses, support their families, and strengthen local communities.
Merck Foundation highlighted its close partnership with the First Lady, which includes providing 295 scholarships to Kenyan healthcare professionals across 44 underserved specialties.
Over the next four years, the Foundation will also offer nearly 100 postgraduate nutrition scholarships to support the First Lady’s Feed One, End Hunger programme.
Through the “Educating Linda” initiative, Merck Foundation is further supporting 47 disadvantaged Kenyan schoolgirls with annual scholarships to help them stay in school and reach their full potential.
Dr Kelej commended the continued impact of Mama Rachel Ruto’s leadership, celebrating the organisation’s contribution to building a more inclusive and prosperous Kenya.
