On Thursday, 29th August 2024, Strathmore University Business School (SBS), in collaboration with the Kenya Healthcare Federation under the Driving Country Level Change, Women in Health Leadership Project, convened the Rift Valley Dissemination Meeting in Nakuru. This event focused on advancing gender equity in leadership within the Kenyan health sector, particularly in Nakuru and Kericho counties.
Dr. Angela Ndunge, Principal Investigator of the Driving Country Level Change, Women in Health Leadership Project, underscored the critical need for evidence-based interventions to address the persistent barriers hindering women’s leadership in healthcare. During her remarks, she highlighted specific challenges, such as imposter syndrome, ingrained cultural norms, and restrictive organizational policies that often prevent women from ascending to leadership roles.
Some of the key recommendations from the dissemination workshop aimed at fostering gender equity in the healthcare leadership landscape included:
Establishing women’s leadership academies. The creation of specialized academies dedicated to nurturing and developing women leaders in healthcare was proposed. These academies would offer tailored training and mentorship programs to equip women with the skills and confidence needed to excel in leadership roles.
Strengthening gender quotas. To ensure fair representation, the meeting emphasized the importance of reinforcing gender quotas within healthcare organizations. Such quotas could help bridge the gender gap by guaranteeing a minimum percentage of leadership positions for women.
Promoting male allies. Engaging men as allies in the quest for gender equity was also highlighted. The involvement of male colleagues in supporting and advocating for women’s leadership is crucial in dismantling gender biases and creating inclusive environments.
Incorporating gender-sensitive leadership training. Integrating gender-sensitive training into existing leadership development programs was recommended to raise awareness and equip leaders with the tools to manage gender diversity effectively.
The discussions at the meeting also touched on the importance of succession planning, capacity building, and creating supportive environments that enable women leaders to thrive. Nakuru County’s CEC for Health, Roselyn Mungai, and Kericho County’s CEC, Brenda Bill-Bii, shared insights into the unique challenges faced by women in leadership roles within the healthcare sector. Despite these challenges, they emphasized that with the right strategies and a supportive network, women can overcome barriers and contribute significantly to the sector’s growth.
A powerful takeaway from the meeting was the call for women leaders to fully embrace their roles. As echoed by one of the speakers: “When you are invited to the table, occupy it fully—mind, body, and spirit. How you show up matters.”
About the Driving Country Level Change, Women in Health Leadership Project
The overall objective of the project is to drive organizational change with regards to the career advancement of women in leadership within Kenya’s health sector. The project seeks to understand the extent to which contextual factors within the organizational domain i.e., policies, leadership, culture, and structure constrain or promote the advancement of women from mid-to-senior level leadership positions. Learn more about the project here
Article by Juliet Hinga
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