These are the women breaking new ground in Kenya’s politics.
Karen Cheywa is the fourth woman Prime Minister of Kenya. But what is the history of Kenya’s female leaders and what opportunities does a female leader bring to society?
Karen Cheywa was appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of Kenya by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2015 as well as the first woman to helm the country.
Since leaving the cabinet, she’s been fighting to dismantle some of the archaic laws that inhibit women’s rights.
We sat down with Cheywa at a reception for women in Kenya to hear her thoughts on women breaking boundaries, career change and Kenya’s future.
Nominations for her Cabinet were opened on Friday, July 24. How did you feel when you found out who would be your Cabinet?
Oh, I wasn’t sure if I would be part of it. I would have always preferred to be part of a Cabinet, but I have to say that I was thrilled that they said they didn’t want me to be part of it. There was no time to think because it was at the start of nominations and everybody had a week to fill their cabinet. I was very surprised to hear them say that I wouldn’t be part of the Cabinet.
I was thrilled that they said they wouldn’t want me and that they didn’t want me to be part of the Cabinet. I had always been very adamant; I was always saying that I wanted to be part of my Cabinet. But they had told me that they didn’t want me and I had to admit that I was a bit speechless. I was waiting to hear if it was true, but I was thrilled when they said that they weren’t going to have me in the Cabinet.
My colleagues took me to the office and told me that I didn’t have to be part of the Cabinet. I think they are still waiting to hear if I am going to be part of the Cabinet. I don’t know if it’s going to be part of the Cabinet or not.
You said that you were a woman who had worked her way up through the ranks in
