Mwelekeo TV hosted a sharp discussion on women’s leadership and equal opportunity after Bright Path Kenya founder Josephine Flora challenged Kenya to do more for girls and women seeking positions of influence.

In the interview, Flora said the country has made progress, but many women still face resistance long before they reach the ballot, the boardroom or any senior office.

She said leadership should not be treated as a favour given to women, but as a right earned through ability, hard work and vision.

According to Flora, many barriers begin at home and in society where girls are raised to keep quiet, avoid taking charge and settle for less.

Beyond quotas

Flora said Kenya cannot celebrate numbers alone while many women leaders are still viewed as people filling constitutional slots.

She argued that the country must move to a stage where women are trusted because of what they bring to the table, not because a law demands inclusion.

Her remarks come at a time when debate around representation, youth leadership and equal opportunity is growing across the country.

Flora also stressed that empowering girls should not mean sidelining boys.

She said boys must also be raised to respect women, compete fairly and understand leadership is about service, not gender.

That, she noted, would help build healthier workplaces, stronger institutions and better politics in future.

The Bright Path Kenya boss further spoke about education, saying schools should not only focus on grades and national examinations.

She called for a wider model that includes confidence building, life skills, communication, decision making and mentorship for children from vulnerable backgrounds.

Start now

Flora said one of the biggest struggles many women face is self-doubt.

She noted that many talented women delay stepping forward because they keep waiting to feel fully ready.

Others, she said, are weighed down by pressure linked to marriage, age and appearance, issues that rarely affect men in the same way.

She added that many women are forced to prove themselves repeatedly before being trusted with responsibility.

Flora also highlighted the work being done by Bright Path Kenya through scholarships, mentorship camps and support programmes for young people.

However, she said funding gaps and the shortage of skilled volunteers remain key challenges limiting growth.

Her message to young women was direct: start now.

She urged them not to wait for a perfect moment, saying leadership begins when someone decides to show up, speak up and take responsibility.

The interview is expected to add fresh energy to ongoing conversations on women’s leadership and the kind of society Kenya wants to build.