African Women and Intellectual Leadership

Life Stories from Western Kenya

Maurice Nyamanga Amutabi, Emily Achieng’ Akuno, Humphrey J. Ojwang, Dannica Fleuss, Emily Achieng' Akuno

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN:
  9781032279893
• eBook ISBN:
  9781003857914
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Contributors
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 1 Julia Auma Ojiambo: Pioneer Kenyan Woman in the Gendered Educational Arena
• 2 Salome Nolega David: Defining Education, Delimiting Gender
• 3 Miriam Khamadi Were: Pioneer Medical Educator and Health Researcher
• 4 Christine Abungu Mango: Pioneer Educationist, Environmentalist, and Politician
• 5 Effie Owuor: Multiple Firsts in the Corridors of Law
• 6 Norah Khadzini Olembo: Pioneer Biotechnologist, Leading Academic, and Researcher
• 7 Mary Okelo: The Daughter of Canon Awori and Pioneer of Private School Education in Kenya
• 8 Florida Amakobe Karani: Leading the Leaders as Pioneer Female University Administrator
• 9 Mary Clasina Lutta-Mukhebi: The Language of Educational Leadership and Administration
• 10 Jane Awinja Nandwa: The Making of Kenya’s Founder of Oral Literature
• 11 Rita Itebete: Modeling the Teacher-Administrator-Mentor Trio
• 12 Priscilla Were: Principled for Long and Dedicated Service
• 13 Hellen Aswani Mwanzi: Lessons in Academic Excellence and Mentoring by a Pioneer Female Scholar
• 14 Shanyisa Anota Khasiani: Pioneer Scholar and Researcher in Population Studies
• 15 Teresa Ayuko Akenga: The Petite Dark Girl Who Grew Up to Become a Top-Notch Scholar and Administrator
• 16 Judy Wangalwa Wakhungu: Academician, Environmentalist, Minister, and Diplomat
• 17 Magdalene Namakhiya Odundo: A Life in Clay and Scholarship
• 18 Rachael Asike Masake: The First Female Veterinary Surgeon in Kenya
• 19 Joyce Muhenge Olenja: Spreading Wings Abroad
• 20 Alice Barasa Nabwera: The Making of a Successful Pioneer School Administrator
• 21 Gladys Nabubwaya Opinya: Of Kenyan Women and Dentistry
• 22 Mary Khakoni Walingo: Great Nutrition Scholar and University Administrator
• 23 Mabel Opanda Imbuga: A Pioneer Educationist, Leading Researcher, and Highly Successful University Administrator
• 24 Ruth Khasaya Oniang’o: Mingling Academics and Politics
• Conclusion: Trends in the Making of a Kenyan Woman Intellectual Leader
• Afterword: Life Stories Matter! Leadership, Gender, Dislocation, and Seeing Myself as a Stranger
• Index