Stakeholders in the procurement and supply chain sector in Kenya have urged for more women’s leadership , arguing that it’s one of the main ways of achieving the country’s economic growth, strengthening the institutions, and improving the governance.
The remarks were made during the opening of the 3rd Women in Procurement and Supply Chain Management Conference held in Mombasa, which brought together government officials, industry leaders, and professional bodies to deliberate on gender inclusion in procurement systems.
Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management, Cyrell Odede, emphasized that women empowerment should be a priority from the perspective of both society and economy.
He underlined the importance of having more female leaders in the executive and decision-making positions within the procurement and supply chain institutions.
Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme, Ida Odinga, advocated for gender parity in the procurement sector and stated that it would be necessary for stakeholders to actively place women in leadership positions where they can influence policies and outcomes.
She also added that women need to be at the center of the global environmental issues at the same time as climate change and supply chain disruptions.
Jeniffer Cirindi echoed same sentiments, highlighting the importance of mentorship, capacity building as well as structural reforms to bring about the changes.
