Could Kenya have influenced Ethiopia?

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Ethiopia is making headlines again and as usual, for the right reasons. It looks like Ethiopian Prime Minister was inspired by Kenya to appoint a female Press Secretary for his government.

After President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed the appointment of Kellen Kanze Dena as Kenya’s first female State House Spokesperson and Head of the President’s Strategic Communication Unit, Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Prime Minister seems to have gotten some inspiration and announced the appointment of Billene Seyoum to the position of Press Secretary in his office.

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Ethiopia has a new government spokesperson as at Monday with the appointment of Billene Seyoum as Press Secretary at the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Billene will be assisted by yet another phenomenal woman, Helen Yosef, who was confirmed as the Deputy Press Secretary.

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Both Billene & Helen have extensive experience in communications & journalism. The Press Secretariat is a new office under Abiy’s new chief of staff, Shimelis Abdissa, who took over from Fitsum Arega.

Before the appointment of Billene, official communication from the government was done by Abiy’s former Chief of Staff, Fitsum Arega who is now taking up the post as Commission of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC).

Billene expressed her excitement and gratitude on the new post terming it as an honour and privilege to serve as Ethiopia’s government spokesperson.

“I am beyond overwhelmed by the positive responses and well wishes received in my appointment as FDRE PMO Press Secretary. It is an honor & privilege bestowed upon me to serve this country. I am truly humbled & ready to give you my best in this role. #Ethiopia,”she said in a tweet.

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Since he took office in April 2018, Abiy has made widespread reforms that have earned him praise at home, across the subregion and internationally. His inclusion of women in his cabinet and top government positions have made him the President every other African country is jealous of.

Prime Minister Abiy, gave half of the ministerial positions to women thus achieving gender equality in his cabinet. He went further and nominated Sahle-Work Zewde, as Ethiopia’s first female Head of State. As if it were not enough, Abiy appointed Meaza Ashenafi, as the country’s first female President of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia.

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The recent appointments made my the Ethiopian Prime Minister shows that there is no stopping the train of women empowerment with Abiy in the driver’s seat. Now if only other countries can follow suit…

 

Have you ever envisioned a Kenya that has a female president or a female Chief Justice?

 

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