By Annette Amondi
The 2019 International Women’s Day, observed on March 8 under the theme #BalanceforBetter, highlighted Kenyan women driving social change through professional and community initiatives.
Notable efforts included the Nairobi Securities Exchange’s CEO training program for women and Kenya Commercial Bank’s symbolic logo update to a lioness. Ghetto Radio also spotlighted local trailblazers, including Cecilia Wangari, Dr. Jean Kagia, and Lyn Gacheru.
Cecilia Wangari: Automotive Sound Expertise and Entrepreneurial Vision ¶
At 78, Cecilia Wangari—known as ‘Shosh Mahewa’—has built a 15-year career repairing vehicle sound systems. Her skills were self-taught after sponsoring her grandson to study the field. Wangari aims to establish a training school to empower youth with electronics skills and foster self-employment.
Dr. Jean Kagia: Advocating for Life and Supporting Survivors ¶
Obstetrician Dr. Jean Kagia Wamaitha founded the Protecting Life Movement (PLMT) to aid sexual abuse survivors. Her Kiotas (nests) in Murang’a County (established April 2011) and Kwale County (June 2015) have sheltered 107 girls in crisis pregnancies, with 95 in Murang’a and 12 in Kwale. The initiative includes livestock programs to sustain operations.
Lyn Gacheru: Supporting Early Mothers Through Sister’s Keeper Kenya ¶
Lyn Gacheru’s nonprofit, Sister’s Keeper Kenya, provides essential baby items to low-income mothers. On International Women’s Day, she distributed supplies at Pumwani Hospital, aligning with the global call for gender balance.
The 2019 observance emphasized actionable steps toward global gender equality, reflecting local efforts by Kenyan women to address systemic challenges.
