The second edition of the Suhba Series: Becoming Her was held at a Nairobi hotel, bringing together over 300 women from various circles, including business, diplomatic, corporate, entrepreneurial, and social. The event was founded by communications strategist and entrepreneur Farida Idris and produced by FID & Co. The main objective of the convention was to create a space where women can move beyond titles, exchange ideas, and build relationships that matter.
The event featured several notable speakers and guests, including former Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed, Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, media personality Dr Julie Gichuru, and Sumayya Hassan, CEO of Iktifaa Shari’ah-Compliant Investment House. Hon. Harriette Chiggai, Presidential Advisor on Women’s Rights, was the Chief Guest, while CHRP Quresha Abdullahi, Executive Director & Council Secretary of the Institute of Human Resource Management, was the Special Guest.
Amb. Amina Mohamed emphasized the importance of having the courage to grow and learn, stating that “Becoming is not about arriving at a perfect version of yourself. It is about having the courage to keep growing, to keep learning and to use every season of your journey to create possibility, not only for yourself, but for the women who will come after you.” Her address set the tone for the event, which aimed to inspire and empower women.
Hon. Harriette Chiggai encouraged women to make an impact in society by taking up leadership positions and leaving a positive mark. She stated that “A woman should not simply be invited into the room to make the room look different. She should be able to contribute to the conversation, influence the decision and have the confidence to say, ‘This is what I think. This is what I know. This is what I bring.” Her words resonated with the attendees, who were eager to make a difference.
The convention celebrated a significant milestone by doubling its attendees compared to the inaugural edition. The first edition attracted 160 women, while this year’s edition had over 300 attendees. This growth demonstrates the increasing appetite for spaces where women can connect beyond social media, professional titles, and traditional networking.
Farida Idris, founder of Suhba, described the event as a natural extension of her career spanning nearly two decades across media, communications, and experiential events. She stated that “Suhba is about creating a room where women don’t just listen to extraordinary stories but where they recognise themselves in those stories, share their own, and leave having made connections that can extend far beyond the afternoon.” The event was designed to feel different from a conventional conference, with a sophisticated high-tea setting and immersive brand activations.
The vision for Suhba is to grow into a community where women across generations and industries can build genuine relationships, create business opportunities, mentor one another, and open doors for a new generation of women. Idris emphasized that “A beautiful room gets people talking. A meaningful conversation gets them thinking. But the real magic is what happens afterwards – the partnerships formed, the doors opened, and the women who leave inspired to pursue something bigger. That’s the legacy we’re building with Suhba.”
Key points
- The second edition of the Suhba Series: Becoming Her attracted over 300 women, doubling the number of attendees from the inaugural edition.
- The event featured several notable speakers and guests, including former Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed and Hon. Harriette Chiggai, Presidential Advisor on Women’s Rights.
- The vision for Suhba is to grow into a community where women can build genuine relationships, create business opportunities, and mentor one another.
