Bamburi Cement has entered into a partnership with Isuzu East Africa and four other organizations to launch the Women on Wheels campaign, a female-centered training and recruitment program.
The initiative is seeking to encourage more women to take up truck driving as a career even as they face barriers such as dominant culture of masculinity, gender stereotypes and sexual harassment among others.
Speaking during the launch of the program, Bamburi Cement’s Country Head of Health, Safety and Environment Jane Wangari said the campaign will provide employment to about 100 women yearly.
“we are determined to increase the proportion of women in every aspect of our operations. We continue to find more opportunities and partnerships to further entrench and influence equity among our customers, suppliers and communities across markets that we serve.”
Through the program, the women will undergo rigorous technical truck operation and defensive driving training where they are equipped with skills on how to operate heavy trucks, including simulator exercises that expose them to different truck driving techniques.
Kenya Transporters Association Chief Operating Officer Mercy Ireri noted that the trucking industry is rife with hurdles which make it unattractive for women to work in calling on stakeholders to fight for the space of women in the transport sector.
“ Fleet managers, owners, as a well as players in the logistics value chain as a whole, have a responsibility to shift stereotypes, embrace diversity and adapt their recruiting, hiring and training to reflect the growing presence of women in industries that have traditionally been male-dominated.”
Isuzu East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe assures the shareholders of their commitment in building relationships and long term partnerships.
“The program we are launching today will include experienced women drivers ready for employment, license holders with no truck driving experience, as well as freshers who have not yet acquired a driving license.”
Kenyan women currently make up only 10 percent of the public transport workforce with 85 percent of them working as matatu operators in the Nairobi Metropolitan area according to a 2020 survey by Flone Initiative.
