I helped lead women to financial success

MARY OKELO was one of the most influential women in the fight against economic discrimination of women in banking across Africa. The owner and director of Makini Schools spoke to NJOKI CHEGEI began my career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1967. I harboured the dream of becoming an ambassador, but let go of that dream as soon as I began working at the ministry. Six months later, I left to join Barclays Bank. I rose through the ranks and in 1977, I became the first woman bank manager in the country.In those days, it was very difficult for women to access credit as they were required to have the approval of their husbands among several other bottlenecks. We operated under the archaic Napoleonic law where women, children and lunatics were put in the same category.MARY OKELO, the owner and director of Makini Schools [PHOTO: STANDARD]Women had no contractual rights, yet they played a big role in nation building. They could not even be promoted to managerial positions. Most women those days were clerks, cashiers, sweepers and tea girls.To counter this, some female colleagues and I began the Barclays Bank Women’s Association to mentor young women into successful banking careers. We challenged and inspired young women not to accept the status quo or be content with subordinate jobs. Access to creditWe encouraged each other to work hard for managerial positions, study for professional exams and, most important, to believe in our capabilities and talents.During the first UN meeting in Mexico, it emerged that women were underdeveloped due to lack of access to credit and capital facilities. In 1979, Women’s World Banking (WWB) was conceived. This was a milestone for women in banking because it opened doors to many other organisations that would empower women and promote their economic growth.In Kenya, we saw the need to start a like-minded organisation so in 1982, we invited other like-minded women and started the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT). I became its first chairperson and my then boss at Barclays Bank, TD Myles, supported my efforts to see the organisation grow. Today, I am proud of Dr Jeniffer Riria, the current Chief Executive Officer of KWFT who has worked hard to see the organisation become the largest micro-finance institution in the country.It was a difficult road but we had to fight for the rightful position of women as far as banking and access to credit and capital was concerned. We encouraged women across the country to save their money and borrow loans to start and grow their businesses. Slowly but surely, women became more empowered and today women run huge business.Changing lawsI left Barclays Bank in 1985 to be the regional representative and first African representative to the Women’s World Banking. My job was to sensitise and inspire women across the continent to be economically empowered and independent. I was also involved in lobbying African governments to change rules and regulations discriminatory to women.Two years later, in 1987, WWB seconded me to the Africa Development Bank as a senior advisor to the bank’s president. My area of concentration was focused on women development and the private sector. I worked as the president’s senior advisor until 1990 when I was appointed the vice president of the Women’s World Banking based in New York.As vice president of WWB, my job entailed a lot of travelling and I literally lived off a suitcase. I covered all the 52 African countries to lobby African governments and financial institutions to remove rules and regulations that were discriminatory against women. I also inspired women taking the initiative to be financially independent and economically empowered.I was instrumental in setting up affiliates of WWB in African countries such as Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. After a while, I felt homesick. Being away from my husband and children was not easy to deal with. In 1992, I decided to take a sabbatical and while on the break, I decided to leave the banking career altogether.My family is everything to meI met my late husband, Dr Pius Okelo, in 1968 in London While studying for my post graduate diploma in professional banking.He was studying at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, where he earned a doctorate in Electrical Engineering. He was the second Kenyan PhD holder in Electrical Engineering.We got married in London and got three wonderful children; Joseph Okelo (he has a Masters in Strategic Management), Lawrence Okelo (he has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering) and Clare Niala (a doctor). Plus their spouses (Patricia, Christine and Alistair), in total, I have six children and six grandchildren. My family is everything to me. We have stuck together through thick and thin. I thank God that they are good and supportive children.I lost my husband in November 2004 through a road accident. Life without him has been challenging, but I have found strength in Jesus Christ. Secure childhood I have come to take God more seriously than ever and I have since embarked on a spiritual journey. I have seen God’s faithfulness in many ways as I lean on His promises and trust Him completely. I have a strong Christian background and all through my life, I learnt to put God before everything I did.I was born in Busia, near the border of Kenya and Uganda to Cannon Jeremiah Musungu Awori and Mariamu Awori. I was the 14th born among 16 children. We were a close-knit family. Our parents applied a fine blend of love, care and strict-military-like discipline. They led us to God and taught us to respect and love God in everything we do. I had a very happy and secure childhood and I enjoyed the company of my sibling as we went to school together at the local mission school in Nambale.I attended Butere Girls for my O-levels. I was among the first 13 girls admitted to start A-levels in the country at Alliance Girls High School. Other girls included Lady Justice Effie Owuor, Prof Florida Karani, Elizabeth Wanjiru (of Mother-in-Law) and the late Elizabeth Masiga (the first woman chief inspector of schools) among others.Alliance Girls contributed to moulding me into what I am today and I fondly recall our headmistress, Miss Mary Bruce, inspiring us to succeed.

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