EA Whispers
By Isaac Mwangi
Email: isaacmmwangi@gmail.com
EAC has appointed a woman to head its Secretariat as Secretary General (SG). It is in this respect that the recent appointment of Kenya’s Veronica Mueni Nduva as EAC-SG can be seen as truly revolutionary and groundbreaking.
Her appointment does not just mark a significant milestone in the pursuit of gender equality in the region’s boardrooms and institutions. It is now recognised that diversity is a key aspect of good governance. This is why organisations are encouraged to promote inclusion of all sorts of people regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation, and gender. By appointing Ms Nduva to the top echelons of leadership, East Africa has shown willingness to address one more ground on which discrimination often takes place – that of gender.
This still leaves a lot to be done in not only entrenching gender inclusivity across all cadres and institutions of the community, but also in addressing the other grounds affecting minorities in which the Community falls short. It is well known that the region includes all races, for instance; where merit is considered, greater inclusivity demands that East African Asians, whites, and everyone else be equally considered. It is often overlooked that some individuals within these minorities played a critical role in the freedom struggle, for example, and continue to do so in our economies. They are no less citizens of the region.
Sworn-in during the 23rd Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Heads of State that was held virtually and chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Ms Nduva has her work clearly cut out. She will take courage in the fact that quite a number of other women in the region hold leadership positions. They include Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Gender studies have shown that women often look at issues quite differently from men; this means that their inclusion in top leadership not only ensures their fair representation, but also enhances the quality of decision-making processes. Women leaders also often bring attention to issues that may otherwise be overlooked – such as maternal health, education for girls, and protection against gender-based violence. Their inclusion can only be good for the region.
