A vibrant Women in Logistics Association is needed to support more female drivers to join the transport ecosystem. Ms Veronica Nduva, Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, says the logistics sector is replete with practices that create barriers for women joining the industry.
“Traditionally, the logistics industry has been regarded as ‘no place for a woman’. and this is true going by the data available from various studies that show women massively under-represented in the industry despite their higher number in the Kenyan population and labour market,” Ms Nduva says.
She lauded She Delivers initiative, a Ponty Pridd internship programme launched on The launched on 21st September 2023, touting it as significant project that will bridge the gender gap in the logistics and transport industry. Ponty Pridd Holdings is a transport and logistics company specializing in both long and short-distance haulage for local and export destinations.
Some 80 women will be trained annually under the programme as they navigate their careers in the dynamic world of transport and logistics.
With this initiative, Ponty Pridd aims to provide aspiring women professionals with the guidance, knowledge, and opportunities they need to excel in a traditionally male-dominated field. Gender equality in the workplace is a priority for Ponty Pridd, and She Delivers programme represents a significant step forward in promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry.
“We believe that diversity is essential for driving innovation and progress in the transport and logistics sector,” says Mr Anthony Wainaina, CEO of Ponty Pridd Holdings. “She Delivers, our Women in Transport and Logistics Program, is a testament to our commitment to empowering women, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the industry.”
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Mr Ibrahim Abdi, Senior Deputy Secretary, State Department of Transport, said the programme is a commitment to increase women participation in the transport sector. “This initiative will address the entry barriers & shatter the stereotypes that dominate this space. It will attract more females into the industry and ultimately create a space for them to thrive under a banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” he said.
Women have proved their mettle in all the sectors. The penetration has been slow, but it is increasing gradually. “Likewise, given the kind of disruptions we are witnessing in the logistics and supply chain ecosystem, we will definitely require a large pool of talent to efficiently run the businesses,” Mr Wainaina said. “There are a number of opportunities that lie ahead in this sector which women can and should explore.”
Ponty Pridd provides national long-distance operations as well as cross-border transit services. Its services range from complex warehousing and distribution to tailor-made end-to-end supply chain solutions.
