Work harder to excel, First Lady urges women

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has urged women to strive for excellence in order to make a bigger impact on society.

Mrs Kenyatta said the success is never handed over on a silver platter but earned through hard work and determination.

“It is the nature of a woman to work extremely hard. By nature, women are catalysts; they are change makers. They are bridge-builders, problem-solvers and peace-seekers,” she stated.

The First Lady said women are capable of influencing policies that impact on the lives of their families and the country.

She spoke when she joined delegates from across Africa in sharing personal leadership experiences during the African Women in Leadership Network Forum at a Nairobi hotel.

The programme encourages female alumni to mentor each other, promote the awards to women in their country and share ideas through the Gender Network social networking group.

She praised the forum award programme, inaugurated in 2013 by Liberia’s President Sirleaf Johnson in Monrovia, Liberia, for playing “a critical role in shaping female leaders who contribute to sustainable change in the continent”.

Mrs Kenyatta appreciated women from across the continent who, through hard work, creativity and consistency have excelled in their fields.

“I think of Juliana Ndolo, who voluntarily stepped into the health crisis in Liberia to fight against Ebola; Grace Arach from Uganda – a true crusader against child soldiers or Romana Mbinya, who is using her education and skills to build the capacity of our farmers here in Kenya,” the First Lady said.

The First Lady acknowledged Australia’s contribution in the development of human capital in Kenya and Africa, saying women benefitting from the award have changed the lives of Kenyans.

“I congratulate each of the 32 most recent awardees who join the ranks of other high-achieving women; each one of you ladies is proof that investing in women is a sure way of unlocking the potential of our continent,” the First Lady said.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki challenged women in positions of leadership to reconnect with the grassroots to empower fellow women.

She said “The First Lady has retained all the powers associated with her position despite efforts to connect with the grassroots through her pet project, ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign”.

The CS thanked the Australian government for the awards project that benefitted both men and women equally on 50-50 basis.

Australian High Commissioner to Kenya John Feakes described members of the African Women in Leadership Network as excellent ambassadors for the Australia Awards programme and advocates of women’s empowerment in their countries.

The diplomat said the programme is an Australian government flagship project in Africa that has provided more than 5,000 scholars with skills to support development of their respective countries.