BLACK GIRL MAGIC: IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A WOMAN IN AFRICA

It’s an exciting time for women in Africa after the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, gave half of the ministerial posts to women.

Ethiopia has now become the second country in Africa after Rwanda to achieve equal gender representation in the cabinet. This happened after the Prime Minister approved the nomination of 20 women into his cabinet, including Aisha Mohammed who was appointed as the first female Minister of Defense.

This was a great improvement as the previous cabinet which had 28 ministers, constituted only 5 women.

In a statement, Abiy Ahmed said, “Our women ministers will disprove the old adage that women can’t lead.”

He added women had made a great contribution in restoring peace and stability, were less corrupt, respected their work and could sustain the drive for change.

 

Kenya is not being left behind in the revolution that seeks to empower the African woman. President Kenyatta has also made strides in including women in his government. Although Kenya has not achieved the 30% constitutional requirement, progress has been made in trying to achieve gender equality.

Women in Kenya currently constitute about 19% of the Members of Parliament which is a great step from 1963 where the country had no single female legislature.

President Kenyatta has also tried in his administration to include women, when he named 6 women in his cabinet of 21. The six include Prof. Margaret Kobia as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Raychelle Omamo, CS in the Defence ministry, Dr Monica Juma (CS Foreign affairs), Ms Sicily Kariuki (CS Health), Ms Amina Mohamed (CS Education) and  Ms Farida Karoney (CS Lands).

Only recently, President Kenyatta appointed Kenya’s first Woman Brigadier, Colonel Fatumah Ahmed as the Major General of the Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme.

Kanze Dena also broke the glass ceiling when the President confirmed her appointment as State House Spokesperson and Head of the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit which made her the first ever female State House Spokesperson in Kenyan history.

As part of his big four agenda, the President pointed out that Kenya will not be as prosperous or as fair as it aims to be if half of its population is disadvantaged and discriminated against.

“That is why I have insisted that my administration must further the cause of gender equality, and the empowerment of women in particular,” the President said.

Nairobi Deputy Governor, Mike Sonko is also under pressure as Nairobi women led by the Nairobi County Women Forum chairlady, Cecilia Wairimu now want the governor to move with speed and appoint a woman deputy governor.

“For a close to a year ,women have waited for the Governor to honor his pledge of appointing a woman Deputy Governor. Some of the problems women face emanate from the fact that there isn’t someone high placed to stand for them.” said Cecilia.

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