Two Kenyan women on the Forbes power list

Two Kenyan women have been listed among Africa’s 50 most powerful women for having made notable contributions and challenging the status quo.

Founding member of the Kenya Women Finance Trust Jennifer Riria (pictured above) and award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o were over the weekend feted among Africa’s most powerful women during the Forbes leading women summit 2020 in Durban, South Africa.

Ms Riria, who is also Echo Network Africa (ENA) Group Chief Executive, has in the past been recognised as model for women’s empowerment both in Kenya and the region.

In 2013 and 2014, she was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

She also serves as chairwoman of Women’s World Banking, a global microfinance network consisting of over 53 micro finance institutions (MFIs) from 30 countries.

Ms Nyong’o has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, becoming the first Kenyan to win an Academy Award for her role in the historical drama '12 Years a Slave'.

The actress is also an advocate for women’s rights and is vocal about sexual harassment.

She is also an author -- having published a New York Times best selling children’s book titled 'Sulwe' last year.

The listing of the continent’s leading women by Forbes Africa is meant to recognise those challenging the status quo and creating a trail on terrain where there was none.

In an article, Forbes Africa noted that the women were drawn from various sectors including business, politics, media, science, sports and public life.

South Africa and Nigeria stole the day by having the most women on the list. South Africa had 18 women on the Forbes Africa list while Nigeria had 10.

The overall winner crowned Africa’s most powerful woman was Nigerian entrepreneur Olajumoke Adenewo, the founder of architectural design firm Ad Consulting.

Others who were recognised include Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde as well as Graca Machel, a passionate children and women's rights activist. Ms Machel, the founder of social development organisation Graca Machel Trust, is also the widow of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Also on the list were UNAIDS Executive Director National Winnie Byanyima (Uganda), author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria), International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (Gambia), Olympic Champion Caster Semenya (South Africa), award-winning musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa) and Elman Peace Centre founder Ilwad Elman (Somalia).