Lack of women in President Uhuru’s economic team picture causes social media buzz

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing his economic team at Treasury. (Photo: PSCU)

Photos doing rounds on social media showing President Uhuru Kenyatta heading his economic team seated on a table with only men has caused a social media storm.

The reactions on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, was all about the position of women in economic planning if they are left out in such important matters.

An angry Geraldine Muiruri on Facebook posted: Dear Mr. President, Surely if this is the country's Economic Team; where exactly does the future for us women in Economics lie? I am a concerned woman Economist.

The post ignited a discussion with more of her friends chipping in.

President Uhuru chairing a meeting with his economic team (Photo: PSCU)

Samuel Maina replied:   I think this women empowerment is overrated...I think papers and experience should speak more not activism.

Paul Arap Ngugi posted:  Geraldine Muiruri I am very much pro-women and I do have a problem imagining that we would have a picture like this in a country with majority of women some of whom are without a doubt extremely gifted! But I also have a problem with the unstated suggestion that one’s gender gives them some distinctive intellectual capabilities or incapacities. This idea is both false and demeaning to either gender.

On WhatsApp, Roselyne Obala wrote: It is sad I can’t see any woman. When it comes to serious stuff women feature nowhere. Treasury meeting today.

On President Uhuru’s Twitter handle, after he posted the picture, it also raised a storm attracting more than 1.2 likes, 300 retweets and 200 replies.

Davis‏ @MuguimiDavis tweeted: Again Mr. President Sir. This looks like a MEN ONLY affair! Do something about this trend. "Women Hold Half the Sky"

Lilian Ongayo‏ @LilianNO1 : Mr. President. Next time, please ensure that next time the first row seats are half filled with women.

President Uhuru Kenyatta walked from his Harambee House office to Treasury where he held a meeting with the economic team and partners, African Development Bank (AfDB). This was a follow up meeting after two others in the last three weeks.