BAMBURI CEMENT EMBRACING GENDER EQUALITY

Bamburi signs up to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles, signalling the company’s commitment to gender equality

By Douglas Muriithi

Bamburi Cement Group Managing Director Seddiq Hassani signed

the CEO statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles

(WEPs) to symbolize the company’s endorsement of the Principles.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles charter is a joint initiative of UN

Women and the UN Global Compact (UNGC), providing guidance for

promoting gender equality in the workplace and the community through a

set of seven Principles.

Speaking during the signing, Bamburi Group Managing Director Seddiq

Hassani noted that the signing of the CEO statement underscores the

actions that Bamburi has already taken in promoting gender equality and

inclusion in their operations. He added that commitment to the Women’s

Empowerment Principles further reaffirms Bamburi firm belief that

diversity is a vital source of long-term performance for the company.

“I am thrilled to be signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles Charter

on behalf Bamburi Cement limited. This partnership reaffirms our

continuous commitment to women career development and equality as a

core value in our organisation. I have seen firsthand the positive

impact we can have on the lives of the women workers in industrial

sector and therefore, we also intend to utilize this opportunity to

further entrench and influence equity among our customers, suppliers

and communities across markets that we serve,” said Mr. Hassani.

“Ensuring the Women Empowerment Principles requires intentional actions

and deliberate policies, and as Bamburi we will continue with our

efforts to support women advancement and to show the business case for

women’s empowerment and equality in our industry and beyond,” Hassani

added.

“On behalf of UN Women, I warmly welcome Bamburi Cement to the global

community of practice that strives to foster gender equality and the

empowerment of women, advance diversity and inclusion, and contribute

to realization of Sustainable Development Goal number 5 on Gender

Equality. In Kenya, we have 31 companies that have signed up to WEPs,

you make company number 32 to sign,” said Ann Mutavati, Country

Representative for UN WOMEN in Kenya.

Through previous successful corporate initiatives to promote gender

equality and women’s empowerment, in 2019, Bamburi was ranked number

one listed company under the industrial sector in Kenya on gender

equality through a research by Equileap – a leading provider of data

and insights on gender equality in the workplace to accelerate progress

towards gender equality.

The Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) is a seven-step blue print for

the global and national business community to empower women in the

workplace, marketplace and the community.