
Climaxing the International Women’s Day commemoration, on March 11, 2023, lady students from Kisii University’s different schools held an event to learn more about technology and digital spaces.
Planned and hosted by Women Techmakers (WTM), a women-run, tech-driven program empowering women in technology, being event organizers, public speakers, and content creators, among others, it provided a platform for the students interested in technology and otherwise, to interact, share, learn and get equipped and empowered.
The event was hosted under the Department of Computing Sciences in the School of Information Science and Technology (SIST) Kisii University, headed by Ms. Teresa Abuya, the Chair of Department, Computing Sciences. The School’s Dean is Dr. Fred Mzee Awuor.

Theme, partners
The event’s theme was Dare To Be, a firm, timely clarion call to confidence and snatching of available opportunities in all spheres of the professional world.
Two of the WTM Ambassadors facilitated the event: Lina Mwakitawa, a Kisii University software engineering student, Lead Ambassador I4G Kisii University, software and Mobile Application developer; and Faith Akinyi, a WTM Ambassador and software and mobile app developer.

The main strategic partner was the Google Developer Group (GDG) Kisii Chapter, a community of tech enthusiasts and software developers interested in learning, sharing, and digging deeper into Google developer tools & technologies.
Ms. Akinyi, in her introductory remarks, urged the young ladies to become WTM Ambassadors and share their knowledge of technology and related skills.
Tech, an enabler
Dr. George Aberi, Department Chair, Languages, Linguistics and Literature, Kisii University, urged the participants to use the forum as an avenue of change towards newer mentalities and solution-based approaches.
“Technology is an enabler, and women should consider using their abilities to become who they want to be,” he challenged.

He encouraged them to leverage digital spaces, change their patterns of doing things, think and rethink, and pursue greatness.
“Tech should not displace you but empower you and position you at a better place for your future,” he added.
According to Dr. Peter Gutwa, Dean School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) Kisii University, a social science researcher and consultant, discovering your potential to pursue your dreams is inspiration enough to chase the opportunities society offers.
He was presenting on Diversity and Inclusion.
Integrating everyone
“We must appreciate who we are before others appreciate us,” he said, urging the young minds to accept and embrace societal differences, which leads to an informed perspective on solving societal matters.
While diversity drums for the incorporation of people with diverse skills and uniqueness, inclusion provides everyone with equal access to opportunities and resources.
Dr. Gutwa challenged the participants to branch out, do different (short) courses and continue equipping and adding value to themselves to make themselves inclusive in different organizations.

“What is it in you will they find relevant and tap from you?” he called for a moment of soul-searching.
Applauding WTM for the platform, he noted that digital poverty could be addressed through digital innovations and tapping available technology opportunities.
Such include research, web and digital content creation, and software development, among others.
Under his stewardship, the institution’s Languages, Linguistics and Literature department is working on a digital-based project to localize web content through translation and make it neighborly to the laypeople at the grassroots.
Dr. Gutwa noted that “Tech and innovation are enablers to societal transformation and through integration, we can solve community’s problems,” adding that embracing tech makes people more innovative, socially responsible, better communicators and catalyzes talent.
According to the social scientist, “Progress for women is progress for everyone.”
Embracing AI
Catherine Wangare, a Kisii University lecturer in the field of computing science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision, presented on the two areas.
While AI is an enabling element of technology in computers and computerized devices, Computer Vision allows them to see and understand digital images, videos, and other visual inputs — and act or make recommendations based on that information.

“You can go however far you want to go. Be comfortable with your personality, sharpen your skills, go ahead and stride this path,” Ms. Wangare spurred them, arraying to them the opportunities available in the digital world.
Such include designing and “training” robotics, drones, space exploration, digitized underwater exploration, virtual reality and augmented reality, and software and mobile application development, among myriad others.
Daring them to be, she asserted, “Technology and computing are too important to be left to men only.”
Members of the Roundtable Wellness Foundation, a multifaceted platform for visiting, sharing with, and equipping young people on multifarious societal issues, shared imperative nuggets with the students.
The foundation’s members inspire their audiences by sharing success stories and life’s secrets, sparking their listeners with passion and encouraging them to stay working towards greatness.
Dr. Edna Orina is a consultant radiologist and head of radiology, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH), mentor and mental health champion, and founding member, Roundtable Wellness Foundation.
“Be well; find a person to talk to when you have an issue,” she advised.

Dr. Orina contextualized how she’s a beneficiary of using technology, especially in receiving patients’ test results for reporting and sharing the medical reports with the necessary doctors for further intervention.
Decoding Mental Wellness, GBV
Magdalene Gesare, an award-winning women development champion, seasoned educationist, mental health and anti-GBV advocate, and co-founder, Roundtable Wellness Foundation, handled the topic of GBV and Mental Health.
GBV is all forms of violence perpetrated against anyone because of their gender.
According to her, by changing our perspectives and approaches, we can fully handle GBV.
In the words of De philosopher DJ Kyos, “People who are being abused, who accept the abuse and see nothing wrong about it, end up abusing others.”
Recent data from GBV Recovery Centers indicates that one in three Kenyan females has experienced an incidence of sexual violence before attaining 18 years of age.
Between 39% and 47% of Kenyan women experience GBV in their lifetime.

Wife battering, verbal abuse related to one’s gender, psychological and physical violence, forced marriages, sexual harassment and violence, including rape, FGM, forced abortion, and forced sterilization, are some common forms of GBV.
Ms. Gesare explained that HIV, abortions, death, children abandonment and neglect, emotional and physical abuse, early marriages, child prostitution, and child trafficking are some of the scars of GBV.
To safeguard your mental health, “Seek mental health services and assistance,” she said, asserting, “For women to deliver in tech, they must be mentally healthy.”
The mental health advocate revealed that mental wellness can co-exist with mental illness; a lack of mental illness does not equate to mental wellness, as research by The Global Wellness Institute confirms.
Mental health is a process, resource, and state of being, balancing resources and challenges.
IT and other disciplines
“IT is essential in making sense of the data in health, and other biological data, and among other areas as statistical, financial and other interests,” noted Teresa Abuya, Department Chair, Computing Sciences, Kisii University, and a researcher in Bioinformatics and Machine Learning.
She enthused the women students to stay confident, dig themselves out, and work out their way toward success.

She has herself beat myriad odds throughout her academic and professional life.
Based on her experiences, she said that gender is not the problem; how we approach issues is.
Ms. Abuya urged them to trust themselves first for them to be trusted elsewhere.
“Learn to be brave and know what you want,” she challenged the participants.
Un-enabling environments, sexual harassment and violence, lack of motivation, low self-esteem, imposter syndrome, the multiple roles given to girls in society, and unequal opportunities are hindrances to girls’ pursuit of STEM and technology courses.
She further encouraged more women to join the digital spaces and tech-based innovations.
Establishing a support system for women to come together and brainstorm and support one another, standing out and being firm, lobbying for change, sharing and brainstorming, building good relationships, minding one’s health, and being responsible are some of the solutions she gave to enable women to thrive in technology.
The participants were treated to intriguing music by Roy Millar, an artist and student at Kisii University.
Panel discussions
Edinah Kangwana, MBS, MHC, a Leadership & Governance practitioner, Gender Diversity & Inclusion advocate, wellness champion & immediate former Kisii County Government executive; Bonareri Nyabegi, a Kisii University Lecturer, Microbiologist, Quality Analyst, and Community Service enthusiast; and Peris Bosibori, an Entrepreneur and ICT Lecturer, Kisii National Polytechnic, were the panelists.

Moderated by Lina Mwakitawa, a software and mobile app developer, and software engineering student, Kisii University, the panel discussion delved into mentorship, how to do mentorship, a word to younger self, and money-making.
A mentor, according to Ms. Nyabengi, is someone who guides another by being ahead, offering accountability and acting as a source of knowledge and motivation.
As Ms. Kangwana put it, a mentor paves the way and guides the mentees through the process; they should be someone who has seen far more than the mentee.

Mentors may be people you’re in contact with and know each other; you can know them, yet they don’t know if they’re mentoring you, and they can even be people you don’t know each other physically.
“Start now. Start at the point where you are and actualize that dream by working towards it,” would be Ms. Bosibori’s affirmation to her younger self.
To the young students, “You can do it, you can make it. Use your knowledge and connect to the world at grass-roots through innovation and digital technology. We are the people to bring change,” she urged.

To get more knowledge, read books and be knowledgeable on diverse issues of life, according to Ms. Nyabengi and Ms. Kangwana.
Women-women support
Women need to support one another in different areas of life.
As a mentor, “Lead by example; mirror what you want your mentees to see,” advised Ms. Kangwana.
Other approaches include creating an initiative for practical learning, allowing mentees to make mistakes, and praising the good you see in them.

Willingness to be mentored, on the part of the mentees, is vital.
How to mentor
According to Ms. Nyabengi, having platforms where people can learn from is imperative, such as conferences and otherwise.
“If yet to find a mentor, get one today. Equally, go out and intentionally make friends,” Ms. Kangwana said.
Equally, “Normalize lighting each other’s candles; many lit candles brighten and beautify mother universe and when there is a pool of lit candles, you will not risk being in the dark incase your candle goes off. You will always find from the pool a variety to light up yours,” she added.
Setting boundaries, embracing one’s uniqueness, and loving themselves are other approaches.
To grow your social capital, “Don’t always think of money,” advised Ms. Bosibori.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Telcos giant MTN breaking glass ceiling for African women in tech
To sell an app, for instance, one can share it for free and let people know you first before talking business.

Finally, “Nobody gives you power, you take it,” says Ms. Nyabengi.


It’s indeed wonderful to embrace women’s dignity,let women dominate. Archaic societal culture ended a long time ago and no woman should be limited today,they deserve better treatment just like any other.
Thanks so much. The energies that took into account of this event are super. I can smell change in the whole world if we diversify our thoughts to identify most if not each particular challenge we face and implement the same energies. Kudos .
It’s high time we as young women stand out and be aggressive.
Just like madam Ednah Kangwana says, with the right mentorship, we can be more than we think we are.