- Dubbed “a burning flame” by those who have encountered her energy and commitment, Kimtai is the visionary behind FLME—a revolutionary enterprise crafted to empower women to become standout entrepreneurs and impactful investors.
- Women came to learn about new KCB products for 2025, including farming value addition, opportunities in supplying goods and services to the bank, and how to grow their enterprises through FLME.
- Participating in community activities was also encouraged as a way to boost a business’s visibility and local engagement. KCB has embraced digital marketing led by youth to ensure all generations are served effectively.
“She must have had extra hours in her day—certainly a human machine at her best. She was ever-present, ever-reliable. Truly, hers is a burning flame.”
These were the closing remarks of one client, summarizing her experience with the formidable force behind the new KCB Female Led & Made Enterprises (FLME) initiative. That force is none other than Annastacia Kimtai, the Managing Director of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
Dubbed “a burning flame” by those who have encountered her energy and commitment, Kimtai is the visionary behind FLME—a revolutionary enterprise crafted to empower women to become standout entrepreneurs and impactful investors.
A New Face of Banking for Women
Gone are the days when women required their husband’s consent or personal assets to access credit. Gone too is the era when women were criticized for making bold financial decisions. Today, KCB is enabling women—and particularly young women—to understand money markets, manage wealth, and become financially enlightened through FLME, the latest product from one of Africa’s most trusted banks.
An Empowering Encounter in Eldama Ravine
On March 27, 2025, over 100 women clients of KCB’s Eldama Ravine Branch were hosted for an exclusive financial empowerment session with Annastacia Kimtai at Taidy’s Restaurant in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County.
Despite heavy rains and flooding that challenged the outdoor setup, the women remained fully engaged in the session. As one of KCB’s 209 branches in Kenya, Eldama Ravine had the privilege of hosting the MD herself—an uncommon honor that included dining, deep financial discussions, and meaningful networking.
Women came to learn about new KCB products for 2025, including farming value addition, opportunities in supplying goods and services to the bank, and how to grow their enterprises through FLME.
FLME: Fueling Financial Growth
According to Kimtai, despite women making up 51% of Kenya’s population, only 10% access credit. FLME was developed directly from listening to the needs of women clients—tested, refined, and rolled out from 10 branches to now being operational in all 209 KCB branches across Kenya.
FLME supports women in business by offering:
- Loans up to 10 times their savings, capped at Ksh. 250 million
- Unsecured loans of up to Ksh. 10 million
- Access to non-financial benefits, including training and mentorship
- Access to insurance and investment solutions
FLME also integrates savings and loan support for women’s chamas, positioning them for long-term financial growth.
Financial Wisdom Served with Cookies
Bringing “a jar full of cookies to the table,” Kimtai and her team shared wealth management strategies—from borrowing smartly, to mitigating business risks such as fire, theft, or accidents.
She emphasized the importance of health in entrepreneurship, urging women to take advantage of the affordable health insurance cover offered through FLME to reduce the devastating impact of terminal illnesses like cancer on female entrepreneurs.
Lessons were also shared on:
- Delegating and creating employment
- Recreating wealth across generations
- The importance of digital transactions (e.g., Lipa na M-Pesa)
- Understanding credit methodology and saving habits
Local Impact: Disbursement and Development
So far, KCB Eldama Ravine Branch has disbursed Ksh. 42.5 million to 63 women entrepreneurs, out of the Ksh. 150 billion disbursed to the branch. Mogotio Branch has disbursed Ksh. 15 million to local women entrepreneurs.
Baringo County continues to benefit silently but significantly through KCB Foundation initiatives. Notably:
- 46 students from Eldama Ravine have received full scholarships from high school onwards, each mentored by one of 46 volunteer KCB staff.
- 95 youth (aged 18-34) are enrolled in Tujiajiri, a hands-on training initiative equipping them with entrepreneurial and life skills. Graduates receive business tools based on their skills and are monitored for 18 months to ensure financial sustainability.
A major spotlight is also being shone on Baringo’s honey business, with a drive for value addition in agricultural products. In partnership with MasterCard, 155 women-led MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in Eldama Ravine are benefiting, with women representing 90% of these MSMEs.
Lessons in Service, Technology, and Branding
“Service delivery is a deal-maker or a deal-breaker in any business,” Kimtai noted. She encouraged women to become ambassadors of excellent service and stressed the power of networking in business forums to increase exposure and growth.
“As old as you get, do not resist being techno-savvy,” she added, advocating for digital fluency to keep businesses relevant and content fresh. She also emphasized the power of discounts in attracting and retaining clients.
She stressed the need to follow up with customers, the importance of client appreciation, and the proven 80:20 rule in business: while all customers are important, a small group often accounts for the largest share of revenue.
Participating in community activities was also encouraged as a way to boost a business’s visibility and local engagement. KCB has embraced digital marketing led by youth to ensure all generations are served effectively.
PHOTO|KCB Bank.
Honoring Eldama Ravine’s Women Trailblazers
The event also served as a thank-you dinner to KCB clients. Special recognition was given to the branch’s longest-serving female clients, some with over 30 years of banking loyalty, and the youngest clients, aged 18 years, marking a multi-generational journey in financial empowerment.
The Flame Keeper: Annastacia Kimtai
Annastacia Kimtai is no ordinary banker. Described as self-driven and deeply committed, she leads KCB—the largest bank in East and Central Africa—with excellence. Under her leadership, KCB boasts:
- A profitability of Ksh. 45.029 billion
- An asset base in the trillions
- 13 million customers
- 209 branches
- Over 6,000 employees
Her legacy continues to burn bright, empowering women, nurturing youth, and championing inclusive finance through FLME—a flame that’s lighting up Kenya, one woman at a time.
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