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Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida was among 12 top Kenyan sportswomen who graduated from the inaugural She Drives Sports Leadership Programme at the weekend.
Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida and beach volleyball star Gaudencia Makokha are among 12 trailblazing sportswomen who have earned another feather on their cap.
The two, alongside Camilyne Oyuayo, Team Manager for the Kenya Lionesses, Kenya’s top rifle shooter Priscila Mburu and Sports radio presenter Hilda Cheptoo were the first batch that graduated after a rigorous seven-month intensive training programme focused on sports leadership and governance, courtesy of the She Drives Sports initiative.
Others were; Damima Duffield (rugby), Gloria Mariwa (football), Ann Waithera (football), Zylene Njoroge (volleyball), Amina Fondo (football) and Fathime Mahendo (football).
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During the seventh-month programme, the 12 engaged in comprehensive training sessions, expanding their expertise in critical areas such as women’s safeguarding, effective communication, dynamic leadership and voting systems.
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They further received great mentorship from women who have broken the glass ceiling in sports business among them sports marketing executive Grace Kiraguri, former US national team goalkeeper and Olympic champion Mary Harvey, sustainable sports expert Quinter Adongo, Kenyatta University’s Sports and Recreation lecturer Dr Edna Thangu, Sadili Africa founder Dr Liz Odera and Eagles Basketball founder Nellie Odera.
What Did the Graduands Say About the Programme?
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“Being part of the first cohort of this initiative and graduating means that my capacity has been built. I am getting out there a better-informed person and one who has finer decision-making skills. My position as Team Manager of the rugby national team demands me to constantly modify my leadership skills and this programme has played a huge role in building me towards achieving my goal,” said Oyuayo.
Meanwhile, Cheptoo was in awe of what she has just achieved, saying: “Just holding that certificate for me was just fulfilling for it shows that I have accomplished something worthwhile. I am now taking to the world the many lessons that I have learned and will apply them to inspire other women in the same circles.”
The She Drives Sports: Rewriting the Sports Code programme, launched late last year through a pivotal partnership between Sports Connect Africa and Moving the Goalpost, is a testament to empowering women in sports.
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It is carefully designed to cultivate leadership, champion inclusivity, and forge robust pathways for personal and professional advancement within the sports industry.
Moving The Goalposts Thrilled With Women Empowerment
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“I am honoured to have been involved in this initiative for it is a transformative movement dedicated to reshaping the sports landscape. It had given the participants a platform to connect with fellow passionate women, amplifying their voices, and equipping them with the essential tools to lead with unwavering confidence,” said Kiraguri, one of the programme trainers.
Dorcas Amakobe, Executive Director of Moving The Goalposts, highlighted the initiative’s massive impact. She said: "Our goal is for this initiative to continuously ignite the passion and unleash the potential of women across the sports landscape. By empowering women to lead, we are not only shaping the future of sports but also inspiring a generation of change-makers."
For players like Akida, the programme is crucial as it has equipped her with the necessary skills as she prepares for life after football, having already been involved in a number of initiatives such as the Akida Foundation tournaments in her native Kilifi county.
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Makokha, meanwhile, graduated in absentia as she is currently representing Kenya at the ongoing Africa Beach Volleyball Championships in Morocco.
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