Redefining Boards: The power of inclusivity, holistic approaches in propelling women leadership

The report released in June 2024 further detailed that for countries such as Kenya, which lies in the Sub-Saharan Africa, gender parity will be achieved after 4 generations. 

As the journey to the fourth generation continues, public discourse now focuses on the key enablers of gender parity, and what challenges can be addressed to reduce the 134 years’ mark. 

In its 11th annual conference, the Women On Boards Network (WOBN) brought together governance experts and women leaders as it marked a decade of women’s leadership.

At the conference, Central Bank of Kenya Deputy Governor Dr. Susan Koech noted that Kenya has put in place various policies to achieve gender parity and inclusion in public service and other economic platforms. 

“We have more women in Kenya participating in various economic activities. The only thing we need to do is to make sure we have the right enabling policies,” remarked Koech. 

The CBK Deputy Governor pointed out key enablers such as affirmative action, which if well implemented, will see more women being open to seeking competitive opportunities such as government tenders. 

“Kenya lags behind in inclusivity despite constitution and other frameworks and regulations in the public service. We still have challenges because of implementation. If you have good laws that are not implemented, it means we will remain where we are,” she added. 

In the panel discussion, Cyprian Nyamwamu, a Policy & Governance and Leadership Specialist also noted how women tend not to seek economic opportunities provided by the government because of their risky nature. 

“We need to de-risk the economy for women to participate in it. The economy in Kenya is too risky to get into,” he remarked. 

Nyamwamu also noted that some institutions created to support gender parity are not living up to their mandates. 

“The quality of institutions is based on whether they are inclusive, ethical, economical and whether they are empowering.” 

On her part, Joyce Muchena advocated for a holistic approach to achieving gender parity, right before measuring its success or failure. 

“Before you think about measuring, you should think of how inclusive and how holistic your approach is. There is no use in having free education as it is in Kenya, but then girls still drop out of school because they do not have uniforms or because of early marriages. Inclusivity without a holistic approach becomes very weak,” Muchena noted. 

The Women on Boards Network, a membership non-profit organization championing governance and promoting women’s representation on boards brought together various delegates for its 11 conference. 

In her key message, Catherine Musakali, Founder of Women on Boards expressed the organisation’s aim to empower women through education, networking, and advocacy, driving change and fostering an inclusive leadership landscape.

“This conference is designed to provide you with the tools, knowledge, and connections to further your professional journey and leadership aspirations. Together, we will explore innovative strategies, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and develop actionable insights to continue advancing women’s leadership in boardrooms and beyond,” said Musakali.