Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida lands Government job

Kenya international striker Esse Akida has landed a government job following her appointment as a member of the Gender Protection and Implementation Advisory Board.

In a gazette notice signed by the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday, 22nd November, Akida together with 11 others were appointed to various positions in the board.

The membership of the board will include the Cabinet Secretary for Sports and the Principal Secretary, State Department for Sports, who will serve as Advisory Board members.

Joining Akida as members are: Prof. Paul Ochieng, Catherine Ndereba, Barbra Malowa, Benjamin Wafula, Elizabeth Wangechi Gichuk,i and Joyce Kebenei.

The board will also have a secretariat that will be headed by Diana Watila as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with Catherine Njeri Maina, Lorna Tanui, Patricia Arisi and Fardhosa Hassan Boru all serving as members of the secretariat.

The appointment of the 32-year-old who turned out for PAOK in Greece as her last station comes on the backdrop of the launch of her book, Chained, which partly addresses the challenges faced by women footballers in the country.

Chained: Esse Akida reveals new project on a "different life"

Within the three years of their service, they will be tasked with performing 11 functions that include;

1. Ensure full implementation of the report on gender welfare and equity in sports submitted to the taskforce on gender welfare in sports on 19th January 2022.
2. Facilitate development and implementation as well as review of gender and Gender Based Violence (GBV) policies.
3. Participate in and/or facilitate institutional gender analysis and gender audits.
4. To develop a framework for a multi-agency approach in dealing with gender based violence in sports and sports organizations.
5. To advocate for gender mainstreaming in sports and sports organizations.
6. To provide a safe environment for sports personnel in their participation in sports activities.
7. To assess the progress of gender-related initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness over time.
8. To organize workshops, training sessions or awareness campaigns to educate members of the organization about gender-related issues and unconscious bias.
9. To ensure the existence of elaborate and institutionalized gender mainstreaming implementation structure.
10. To coordinate reporting on the status of gender equality to relevant structures on behalf of the institution
11. To regularly review progress of planned gender mainstreaming interventions within the sports sector.