3 Kenyans on Forbes' 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa 2012

The 2012 Forbes Magazine second-annual list of "20 Youngest Power Women in Africa" is out and three Kenyan women are in the prestigious list.

The 20 women who are all under age 45, are described by Forbes as African women taking control of their economic, social and political destinies.''

The inaugural list had 6 Kenyans including Ory Okolloh, Julie Gichuru, Olga Kimani-Arara, Stella Kilonzo, Isis Nyongo and June Arunga. 

Lorna Rutto (Founder, Ecopost ), Juliana Rotich (Co-Founder, Ushahidi ), and Jepchumba (Founder and Creative Director, African Digital Art) are the 3 women from Kenya gracing the second list.

Lorna Rutto  Sustainable Living and Green Technology Entrepreneur, Ecopost

Rutto is the founder of Ecopost whose vision is “To Transform Africa’s Waste into Wealth.” Her Nairobi-based company, Ecopost, converts consumer plastic into durable, easy to use and environmentally friendly plastic lumber, an eco-friendly alternative to timber. Rutto is the 2011 Sub-Saharan Africa Cartier Laureate. She also won the 2010 Bid Network Nature Challenge Award, 2010 SEED Award and the 2009 Enablis Business Award.

Juliana Rotich Co-Founder, Ushahidi

Rotich is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ushahidi, a Nairobi-based tech company that specializes in developing free and open source software that aggregates and curates crisis data on a real-time basis and collates the data into live, interactive maps. She was named one of the “Top 100 Women” by the Guardian newspaper, “Top 2 Women” in Technology and “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2011 by The World Economic Forum. Rotich is a technologist and a TED Senior Fellow.

Jepchumba alongside BBC's Komla Dumor 

Jepchumba Digital Content Creator, Cultural Curator, African Digital Art

Jepchumba is the Founder and Creative Director of African Digital Art, a platform for innovation and inspiration which is dedicated to African digital media. Originally from Kenya, but based in Cape Town, South Africa, Jepchumba travels the world to share her views on African art and technology at popular conferences including South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas and most recently at TedxEuston in England.

Some of the other Women from Africa in the list include: CNN's News Anchor & Journalist, Isha Sesay (Sierra Leone); Leila Lopes, Angola, 2012 Miss Universe; Biola Alabi, Nigeria, Managing Director, MNET Africa; Yolanda Sangweni, South Africa, Senior Editor/Producer, essence.com; Danai Gurira, Zimbabwe, Actress & Writer; Eunice Cofie, Ghana, Founder & Chief Cosmetic Chemist, Nuekie; Marieme Jamme, Senegal, Social Entrepreneur, Technologist & CEO, SpotOne Global Solutions; Redi Tlhabi, South Africa, Journalist, Broadcaster & Author; Swaady Martin-Leke, Ivory Coast, Entrepreneur & Founder, Yswara; Jacqueline Chimhanzi, PhD. Zimbabwe, Corporate Executive.

Source: Forbes.com  
Photo Courtesy of Ushahidi.com
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