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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA WOMEN PROPERTY (TV)
HEADLINE: Women Break Barriers to Find Success in Real Estate in Kenya
TEASER: Like in much of Africa, women in Kenya own only a small fraction of property, less than 14% of Kenya's real estate brokers are women
PUBLISHED AT: 3/xx/2022
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo (Drone: Juma Majanga)
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Like in much of Africa, women in Kenya own only a small fraction of property, and less than 14% of Kenya's real estate brokers are women. For VOA, Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi on the challenges women face in the real estate industry.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: NAIROBI EXPRESS-WAY VIEW, DRONE SHOTS OF HOUSES IN A GATED COMMUNITY IN NAIROBI-various))
((NARRATOR))
Kenya’s real estate market has been booming for a decade, with more commercial and residential projects going up urban centers. But despite the boom, women still face myriad challenges trying to become property owners and builders.
((Robyn Emerson, Women in Real Estate President)) ((WIRE)) (English, 33 secs))
“I have sat in on some international development meetings where even just two weeks ago, where people that are international donors and international funders, talking about affordable housing and everyone at that table were men. Who is at the table talking about where 8 billion dollars are going to go are all men. That’s unacceptable.”
((VIDEO-VOA: REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER LEAH WAMBUI AT HER OFFICE IN NAIROBI-various))
((NARRATOR))
Despite the challenges, more women are venturing into real estate development and finding success.
Leah Wambui quit her beverage-selling business to become a real estate developer. Today she has built over 200 homes in the Nairobi metropolitan area, though she and other women face multiple challenges in this male-dominated business.
((Leah Wambui, Real Estate Developer)) ((English, 35 secs))
“So, you work with a contractor who feels they should not expect to hear things from a woman. Or there is a particular way that we’ve been doing things, and this is how we do things. They think that you probably don’t know because you are a woman.”
((VIDEO-VOA: DRONE SHOTS OF SPACE & STYLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WINNIE NGUMI AT HER FACTORY-various))
((NARRATOR))
Having built one of the leading construction-materials manufacturing companies in Kenya over the past two decades, architect Winnie Ngumi understands too well the obstacles women face.
((Winnie Ngumi, Manufacturing Company Owner )) ((English, 36 secs ))
“Even today when I represent the company, say we are seeking a financial facility, we are trying to get a loan, I do face bias. It is almost as if I should have a man with me in the room when I’m negotiating for credit lines for the business.”
((VIDEO-VOA: WIRE PRESIDENT ROBYN EMERSON DURING INTERVIEW-various))
((NARRATOR))
A networking organization called Women in Real Estate, or WIRE, is working to help.
((Robyn Emerson, Women in Real Estate President)) ((English, 25 secs))
“We have a mentorship program that we take professionals to walk with them over that journey and to just assure them, to be there to answer any questions that they might have. Even addressing sexual harassment issues that they experience, and to help them to be confident that they can speak out about these issues, and that that space is theirs also.”
((VIDEO-VOA: WINNIE WORKING AT HER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS MANUFACTURING COMPANY-various))
((NARRATOR))
Industry experts say it will take time to come out of deeply rooted cultural and traditional beliefs in Kenya and across Africa that make it harder for women to thrive in many sectors. But advocates say women like Roby Emerson, Leah Wambui and Winnie Ngumi show that change is coming.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Nairobi
BylineJuma Majanga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
