Women Professionals urged to Mentor Girls to Pursue Courses

Women professionals urged to mentor girls to pursue male-dominated courses as Davis & Shirtliff hosts event to mark International Women’s Day;

Women professionals have been urged to mentor young girls in pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated fields such as finance, legal, engineering, manufacturing and technology to help bridge the gender gap in these industries. Speaking at an International Women’s Day event hosted by Davis & Shirtliff’s Women in Leadership initiative at its Nairobi Industrial Area headquarters, industry leaders particularly highlighted the stark underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ underscores the urgency of advancing gender parity in STEM. While progress has been made, many girls still shy away from STEM careers due to stereotypes, inadequate support, and a lack of visible role models.

A UNESCO study reveals that only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-related courses in Kenya are women, with just 14% in natural sciences and 13% in engineering.

Employers in STEM fields were urged to implement policies that promote equal opportunities for women and eliminate workplace biases.

Despite these challenges, industry leaders remain optimistic that Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will help close the gender gap.

Under the CBC, 60% of students entering Grade 10 will be placed in STEM courses, with the remainder in Arts, Sports Science, and Social Sciences.

“If properly implemented, this strategy will ensure more girls pursue STEM careers,” said Margaret Kuchio, General Manager at Davis & Shirtliff and leader of the company’s Women in Leadership initiative.

As Africa’s leading water and energy solutions provider, Davis & Shirtliff has been at the forefront of fostering gender inclusivity. A third of its workforce comprises engineers from diverse disciplines, with a significant number being women.

Launched in 2022, the company’s Women in Leadership initiative pairs senior female staff with mentees, leveraging storytelling as a powerful tool to inspire and nurture leadership skills.

“At Davis & Shirtliff, we are committed to mentoring women in STEM. Several higher learning institutions have expressed interest in collaborating with us to support students in these fields,” Kuchio added.

“Every woman professional—be it an engineer, scientist or technologist—has a responsibility to mentor the next generation.

You are a leader in your own right,” said Esther Omulele, Managing Partner and Head of the Commercial and Property Division at MMC Asafo, an African and international law firm.

Omulele, for instance, cited data from the Engineers Board of Kenya(EBK), which shows that out of 21,700 registered engineering graduates, fewer than 3,500 are women.

L-R: Head of Marketing, Davis & Shirtliff, Jos Musima, Executive Director, Women in Water and Sanitation Association (WIWAS), Margaret Maina, Green Growth and Climate Change Officer, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Nancy Murithi, Managing Partner and Head of Commercial and Property Divisions, MMC Asafo, Esther Omulele, O.G.W, Deputy Director Bulk Water Operations, Athi Water Works Development Agency, Eng. Caroline Owako, and General Manager Branches, Davis & Shirtliff, Margaret Kuchio during the International Women’s Day Celebration. Women leaders in STEM have been called upon to mentor young girls and bridge the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

“Bridging this gap requires mentorship at every stage.We must also celebrate the women who have successfully scaled the STEM career ladder,” she added.

The event reinforced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which advocates for women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.