There’s something special about a Sunday brunch that isn’t just about the food. The kind where the setting is elegant, the outfits are bold, and the energy feels charged with something deeper. Where the clinking of glasses and beautifully plated bites are merely a backdrop to what really matters — the conversations. Deep, affirming, necessary. The kind that remind you that when women come together with purpose, it’s never just brunch. It’s a movement in motion.
That was exactly the mood at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Nairobi Arboretum this past weekend, where women dressed in stunning Ankara prints gathered poolside — not just to sip mimosas, but to witness and be part of a moment that recognized their power.
Hosted by Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya), the brunch brought together over 200 women — entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals — for the unveiling of GTMalkia, a new banking platform designed for the modern woman. The afternoon was filled with good energy: the shared laughter over brunch, the affirming nods during speeches, and the subtle but powerful sense of solidarity that filled the air.
Guest of Honour Florah Mutahi reminded everyone that women are no longer waiting to be included in economic conversations — they are leading them. In her stirring address, she painted a portrait of feminine power not born of privilege, but forged through grit, grace, and resilience.
She spoke “of a barefoot girl who found her crown in the mud. Of a mother who chose to raise a lioness — not silence a queen. Of Angelique Kidjo, who didn’t wait for a stage — she became one.”
Her words struck a chord. Because like so many in that room — and far beyond it — women haven’t simply inherited crowns. They’ve earned them. With fire. With faith. With sisterhood. And as Florah so powerfully declared: “Queens may rise alone, but we stay risen together.”
Across the continent, women are being recognized not just as contributors to the economy, but as its very engine. From running households to heading companies, they are shaping consumer behaviour, building wealth, and driving change. It’s no surprise then that financial institutions are finally responding — designing solutions that reflect not just women’s financial goals, but their ambition, agency, and evolving lifestyles.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, East Africa Regional Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, described GTMalkia as “a lifestyle platform for visionary women — one that rewards ambition, encourages wealth creation, and recognizes the holistic needs of today’s accomplished woman.”
The event itself mirrored this sentiment — a graceful blend of style, substance, and sisterhood. Guests arrived in soft pastels, bold florals, and power silhouettes — fusing boardroom polish with brunch flair. With live music playing and curated décor setting the tone, the afternoon unfolded as both a celebration and a call to action.
In a world where women are increasingly taking charge of their financial journeys — for their families, their businesses, and their future — it’s refreshing to see spaces that don’t just acknowledge their presence, but truly honour it. And if you ask anyone who was there, they’ll likely agree: it was an occasion to be seen, be heard, and be reminded of what happens when women gather — intentionally, unapologetically, and beautifully.