ABSTRACT

This book highlights the pioneering roles of African women as leaders and role models in Kenya, providing examples taken from across education, health, business, and a range of other sectors. Drawing on authentic first-hand accounts and narratives from key women in leadership positions, and those who have lived with them, the book presents the life stories of women leaders over the last fifty years, aiming to preserve their contributions for posterity and to inspire young people with moral, ethical, and progressive role models. The book uses African knowledge production strategies that look at the human being holistically, in the prism of Ubuntu, in order to define leadership in Africa from an African perspective, one that celebrates the role of the mother figure and places women at the centre of African values and societal dynamics. This book will be of interest to researchers and students of African studies, gender studies, and Kenyan education and socio-political history.

chapter 1|9 pages

Julia Auma Ojiambo

Pioneer Kenyan Woman in the Gendered Educational Arena

chapter 2|11 pages

Salome Nolega David

Defining Education, Delimiting Gender

chapter 3|10 pages

Miriam Khamadi Were

Pioneer Medical Educator and Health Researcher

chapter 4|10 pages

Christine Abungu Mango

Pioneer Educationist, Environmentalist, and Politician

chapter 5|10 pages

Effie Owuor

Multiple Firsts in the Corridors of Law

chapter 6|9 pages

Norah Khadzini Olembo

Pioneer Biotechnologist, Leading Academic, and Researcher

chapter 7|9 pages

Mary Okelo

The Daughter of Canon Awori and Pioneer of Private School Education in Kenya

chapter 8|10 pages

Florida Amakobe Karani

Leading the Leaders as Pioneer Female University Administrator

chapter 9|9 pages

Mary Clasina Lutta-Mukhebi

The Language of Educational Leadership and Administration

chapter 10|9 pages

Jane Awinja Nandwa

The Making of Kenya's Founder of Oral Literature

chapter 11|8 pages

Rita Itebete

Modeling the Teacher-Administrator-Mentor Trio

chapter 12|9 pages

Priscilla Were

Principled for Long and Dedicated Service

chapter 13|10 pages

Hellen Aswani Mwanzi

Lessons in Academic Excellence and Mentoring by a Pioneer Female Scholar

chapter 14|10 pages

Shanyisa Anota Khasiani

Pioneer Scholar and Researcher in Population Studies

chapter 15|8 pages

Teresa Ayuko Akenga

The Petite Dark Girl Who Grew Up to Become a Top-Notch Scholar and Administrator

chapter 16|8 pages

Judy Wangalwa Wakhungu

Academician, Environmentalist, Minister, and Diplomat

chapter 17|12 pages

Magdalene Namakhiya Odundo

A Life in Clay and Scholarship

chapter 18|11 pages

Rachael Asike Masake

The First Female Veterinary Surgeon in Kenya

chapter 19|9 pages

Joyce Muhenge Olenja

Spreading Wings Abroad

chapter 20|10 pages

Alice Barasa Nabwera

The Making of a Successful Pioneer School Administrator

chapter 21|8 pages

Gladys Nabubwaya Opinya

Of Kenyan Women and Dentistry

chapter 22|9 pages

Mary Khakoni Walingo

Great Nutrition Scholar and University Administrator

chapter 23|11 pages

Mabel Opanda Imbuga

A Pioneer Educationist, Leading Researcher, and Highly Successful University Administrator

chapter 24|11 pages

Ruth Khasaya Oniang'o

Mingling Academics and Politics

chapter |10 pages

Conclusion

Trends in the Making of a Kenyan Woman Intellectual Leader

chapter |10 pages

Afterword

Life Stories Matter! Leadership, Gender, Dislocation, and Seeing Myself as a Stranger