List of most influential African women in 2023 – Charlene Ruto, Koome etc

Avance Media has listed Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu and Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya as two of the year’s 100 most influential women.

Irene Koki Mutungi and Charlene Ruto, the daughter of President William Ruto, as well as Chief Justice Martha Koome, are also included on the list.

The first woman in Africa to hold a certification as a captain of a Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” aircraft was Mutungi, a pilot for Kenya Airways.

The fifth edition of the event, which honors notable women from 31 African nations for their outstanding contributions to a variety of regional sectors, is being held this year.

The 2023 cohort features 24 diplomats, 20 business leaders, six climate change leaders, 21 leaders in civil society organizations and philanthropy.

Others were picked from distinguished categories which include governance, media, sports, and entertainment.

Selection criteria include excellence in leadership and performance, personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge, breaking the status quo, and being an accomplished African woman.

Avance Media is pan-African leading rating, media and public relations agency focused on creating varied content for the global market.

Others who have made it to the list are UN deputy Secretary General Amina Mohamed, African Union (AU) deputy chairperson Monique Nsanzabaganwa from Rwanda and former South Africa first Lady Graca Machel.

Taking to her X pace to express her happiness, Tuya said she is greatly honored to be listed even as she thanked President William Ruto for giving her the opportunity to serve in his administration.

“In the coming year, I pray for and look forward to more successes as we step up efforts to address the global climate crisis and protection of our environment,” she said.

Protection of forests was recently rated among the greatest achievements of President William Ruto in a report released by TIFA.

The survey on performance by the government indicates that the Kenya Kwanza administration has made necessary policies in the area attracting a score of 2.3 on a 3-point scale where ‘3’ is very good while ‘1’ is very bad.

Tuya is spearheading the president’s tree-planting campaign which targets 15 billion trees by 2032.

The tree restoration program is aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions, stopping and reversing deforestation, and restoring 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes through the African Landscape Restoration Initiative.

On November 13, Ruto led Kenyans in a national tree-growing exercise where over 15 million trees were planted across the country.