The Government, through relevant Ministries, is undertaking initiatives aimed at inspiring young girls to pursue STEM careers, to encourage them to embrace engineering careers.
This is because, despite huge strides in promoting gender equality in various fields, engineering remains a male-dominated profession.
Speaking during the 7th Women Engineers Summit in Mombasa, the President’s Advisor on Women Rights Hon. Chiggai Harriette said experience showed that early exposure to STEM subjects sparks interest and inspires young girls to pursue engineering.
She however noted that traditional gender roles often discourage girls and young women from pursuing STEM fields, leading to a lack of female role models in engineering.
The Summit was themed “Future of Work: Women’s Role in Industrialization and Green Growth” and brought together engineers from across the region.
The Advisor acknowledged that transition to a green economy will help create new job opportunities for women in the sectors of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and construction.
By empowering women to participate in these sectors, she noted, Kenya can harness their potential to drive sustainable development.
She called on the Private Sector to augment Government efforts in implementing workplace policies that support women’s advancement like equal pay, diversity and inclusion training.
Women are often at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, making them valuable assets in the green economy.
Efforts are in place to curb barriers women continue to face in accessing education, leadership positions, and employment opportunities.