The second edition of the Subha Series: Becoming Her, a women’s empowerment initiative founded by communications strategist Farida Idris and produced by FID & Co., drew over 300 attendees in Nairobi on Saturday, doubling the 160 participants from its inaugural 2023 event. Hosted at a Nairobi hotel, the gathering brought together women from business, diplomacy, corporate sectors, entrepreneurship, and social circles to foster connections beyond professional titles and traditional networking. The event’s core objective was to create a space for women to exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, and inspire collective growth. Keynote speakers included former Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed, Safaricom PLC’s Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, media personality Dr. Julie Gichuru, and Sumayya Hassan of Iktifaa Shari’ah-Compliant Investment House, alongside Hon. Harriette Chiggai, Presidential Advisor on Women’s Rights, and CHRP Quresha Abdullahi of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM).
Amb. Amina Mohamed, the event’s keynote speaker, urged attendees to embrace continuous growth, stating, “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.” Hon. Chiggai emphasized the need for women to actively shape societal conversations, saying, “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.’” CHRP Abdullahi highlighted the interconnectedness of women’s progress, noting, “Another woman’s progress is part of the evidence of your leadership.”
The convention’s growth reflects a rising demand for spaces where women can engage beyond digital interactions. The event featured a high-tea setting, immersive brand activations, music, beauty experiences, and curated networking, with Vintage Concepts designing the aesthetic through purple tones, florals, and elegant lounges. Prizes included return tickets to Mombasa from Skyward Airlines and a two-night stay at Kuriftu Resorts Ethiopia. Idris, who has led over two decades of work in media, communications, and event production, described Suhba as a platform to “create 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.”
Idris envisions Suhba evolving into a cross-generational community where women can mentor, collaborate, and open doors for future leaders. “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,” she said. The event’s success underscores a broader movement toward intentional, in-person spaces for women to amplify their impact and redefine leadership in Kenya’s evolving social and professional landscape.