Dr. Leunita Sumba, the Executive Secretary of the Kenya Water Partnership, and a member of the Regional Steering Committee of GWPEA has been crowned the overall African Woman Achiever in the category of “Most Influential Female in Water and Sanitation” in the prestigious African Women Awards. During the event which took place in Ethiopia on 31st March 2023, a number of women achievers were honored with various awards that saw them joining the larger group of the SHE ACHIEVERS NETWORK on the African Continent. It was hosted by The Business Executive www.thebusinessexecutive.net and other partners.
“I am very passionate about water, sanitation and environment and I love educating the public about it to elicit behaviorual, attitude and mindsets change. This award has come at the most opportune time when we are facing challenges in these issues, and it will be a great step for me to continue championing environmental and river clean-up exercises in my country”, said Dr. Sumba who is the Chairperson of Women in Water and Sanitation Association Kenya.
Dr. Sumba (Middle) with other Women Achievers at the award ceremony
Dr. Sumba’s interest in the interaction between water, sanitation, environment and the wellbeing of the population has led her into research projects where she and others are working to address challenges faced by the manual pit (latrine) emptiers of Korogocho Sanitation Workers under a project dubbed SISTARS: “Transforming Institutions to Advance women leaders in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Lessons from Ghana and Kenya”.
She is the founder of the Toilet of the Year Award (ToYA), which is an annual event hosted by WIWAS.
Dr. Sumba holds a PhD in Biology, MSc in Parasitology, a post-graduate Diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), and has training in basics of decentralized wastewater treatment, among other trainings.
Read More about her Biography HERE