INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN KENYA

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000511 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/WE FOR SASHA MEHRA AND GERDA LANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL KE SUBJECT: INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN KENYA REF: A. STATE 11245 ¶B. 06 STATE 2023451 ¶1. Per request in ref B para 2, we suggest the following influential women from Kenyan civil society and government be included in S/WE's world wide roster of women leaders: ¶2. Wangari MAATHAI; 2005 Nobel Peace Laureate; Founding Director of Kenya's Greenbelt Movement; The Greenbelt Movement, Hughes Building, 1st Floor, Kenyatta Ave, Nairobi, Kenya; tel. (254) 20-211-842; nobelpeace@wangarimaathai.or.ke, gmb@iconnect.co.ke. Ms. Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for the promotion of democracy, human rights, and environmental conservation. ¶3. Catherine GICHERU; Editor; Nation Media Group; Nation Media Group, P.O., Box 49010, Nairobi, Kenya, 00100; tel. (254) 722767196; cgicheru@nation.co.ke. Ms. Gicheru, an extremely influential journalist, is well-respected among media professionals and Kenyan audiences alike for her knowledge and integrity. Her writings cover a divers range of issues and influence the opinions of a broad spectrum of Kenyans. ¶4. Jane ONYANGO; Executive Director, FIDA; FIDA, P.O. Box 46324-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; tel. (254) 20-387-6991 and (254) 722-509-760; jonyango@fia.co.ke. Ms. Onyango is a prominent human rights activist who is highly influential in promoting the legal empowerment of Kenya's disadvantaged women. ¶5. Jacinta MWATELA; Acting Governor, Central Bank of Kenya; Central Bank of Kenya, P.O. Box 60000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; tel. (254) 20-286-3016. Ms. Mwatela is a prominent economist, responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy directed to achieving and maintaining the stability of Kenya's financial sector. ¶6. Jennifer RIRIA; Founding Executive Director of Kenyan Women Finance Trust (KWFT); Kenyan Women Finance Trust, P.O. Box 5519-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; tel. (254) 20-271-2903. Ms. Riria is responsible for improving the quality of lives of many rural women through the KWFT, which is a national organization providing funds to disadvantaged women for social and economic development. ¶7. Please contact either Melissa Sweeney, (254) 20-363-6186, Sweeneyma@state.gov, or Viraj LeBailly, (254) 20-363-6184, LebaillyVM@state.gov, for matters relating to women's issues in Kenya. RANNEBERGER