Ms Ann Kananu Mwenda becomes the third woman to take the reins of a deputy governor after 2017 General Election. The Nairobi City county deputy governor, therefore, comes 10th in the list of incumbent deputy governors after Dr Caroline Wanjiru Karugu of Nyeri who took an oath of office in 2018 and Dr Joyce Wanjiku Ngugi who took the leadership in Kiambu County, last year. Since 2017, five governors, including one female, have exited office either through death or impeachment. Governors John Nyagarama (Nyamira), Wahome Gakuru (Nyeri) and Dr Joyce Laboso died while in office. While Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) and Mike Sonko (Nairobi) were impeached. Of the four counties – Nyeri, Nyamira, Bomet and Kiambu – only two incoming governors opted for female deputy governors. In Nairobi, Ms Mwenda had been nominated by Mr Sonko before his impeachment. In the 2017 General Election, only seven women became deputy governors including…
Guinean President Appoints Fifth Woman in Cabinet Reshuffle
Guinean President Alpha Conde named Kadiatou Emilie Diaby as public works minister in a cabinet reshuffle, making her the fifth woman in his administration. Diaby was a senior official with the African Development Bank, serving as officer-in-charge in Sierra Leone and country manager in Togo from July 2017 to September 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile. She joins the planning, energy, technical education and women’s empowerment ministers who retained their posts, according to a decree broadcast on state-run Radio Télévision Guinéenne. Mamadi Camara also remains the finance minister of the world’s biggest bauxite exporter, as does Budget Minister Ismael Dioubate. Ibrahim Khalil Kaba, the chief of staff in the Presidency, was appointed foreign affairs minister, replacing Mamady Touré. Further appointments are expected in the coming days, including the mining, post and telecommunications, and trade ministries. Bloomberg
Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Resigns Her Senate Seat ahead of Inauguration
U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has formally resigned her Senate seat in preparation for her inauguration on Wednesday alongside President-elect Joe Biden. Harris had served as a senator representing the Western state of California since 2017. “Thank you, California, — it has been an honour serving as your senator for the past four years. Our country has faced many challenges, but I remain certain that our best days are ahead. I promise to keep standing up for our shared values as your Vice President,” Harris said in a tweet Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom chose fellow Democrat Alex Padilla, who is currently California’s secretary of state, to serve the final two years of Harris’ term. Newsom announced his choice in December. Padilla, who is Mexican American, will be the first Latino senator to represent the state. Harris did not give a farewell speech on the Senate floor. The chamber is not…
How Spanish Non-Profit Is Promoting Equal Rights and Opportunities for African Women
Mujeres por África (MXA), or Women for Africa Foundation, is a Spanish non-profit organization founded by María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, the former vice-president of Spain. The organization focuses on promoting equal rights and opportunities for women in Africa, in hopes of contributing to the region’s development. Mujeres por África’s Initiatives Its mains activities are focused on economic development, health, knowledge and leadership and governance, with each of these main areas of operation containing several programs the Women for Africa Foundation employs fruitfully. The Women for Africa Foundation utilizes these programs to further progress key objectives of the foundation, such as to promote a better political orientation and inclusion for women in positions of power, develop knowledge and scientific research in the female population, improve maternal and child health and invest in the economic empowerment of women. “Women for Africa is committed to democracy, governance, peace, human rights, sustainable economic and social…
EU, Morocco Launch Group of Friends to End Violence against Women
The EU, in collaboration with Morocco, Argentina, Mongolia, New Zealand, Turkey, and Namibia, has launched the Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.
Moroccan: Women Must Be Equal Partners in Peacebuilding Efforts – Nasser Bourita
Women must be equal partners in peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita said Tuesday.
Israel Tops MasterCard Index of Women Entrepreneurs
Israel took the No. 1 spot in Mastercard’s 2020 Index of Women Entrepreneurs, ahead of the United States, Switzerland and 55 other countries in terms of the progress made by female entrepreneurs and business owners.