Harambee Starlets attacker Esse Akida has been named as a member of the advisory board in the Gender Protection and Implementation committee within the sports ministry.
The announcement was made public on Friday, November 22 via a Kenya Gazette publication.
“It is notified for general information that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports has appointed an advisory body and secretariat whose functions will be among others ensure full implementation on the report on gender welfare and equity in sports submitted by the task force on gender welfare on sports on 19th January 2022,” the statement read in part.
Besides Akida, another female sporting icon in six-time Abbott World Marathon Majors champion Catherine Ndereba will also serve as a member of the board whose mandate is scheduled to end in November 2027.
Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 391 Million SportPesa Mega Jackpot
The other members of the board include Barbra Malowa, Benjamin Wafula, Joyce Kebenei, Elizabeth Wangeci and Paul Ochieng.
Some of the functions that the committee has been tasked with are to facilitate institutional gender audits and analysis and advocate for gender mainstreaming in sports organizations. They will also evaluate the progress of gender-related initiatives and their effectiveness over time.
Akida’s appointment comes less than three months since she announced her decision to leave Greek giants PAOK FC after a three-year stint.
The forward, who hails from Kilifi County, was one of the best players in the PAOK FC camp where she helped them win several trophies include two league cups.
ALSO READ: Nahashon to Nekesa: Remembering Kenyan footballers who have ever been shortlisted for CAF Awards
Some of the other clubs that Akida has played for in her amazing career include the disbanded Thika Queens, Ramat HaSharon (Israel) and Turkish giants Besiktas.
At the international level, the player who celebrated her 32nd birthday days ago has also been a crucial member of the Harambee Starlets squad.
She was part of the Kenyan team that played in the Women’s African Cup of Nations tournament for the first time in 2016 where she scored a goal in the clash against Ghana.
ALSO READ: Why new World Athletics Ultimate Championship will hurt Kenyan runners