Meet 16-year-old Girl Who Took Over Swedish Embassy in Nairobi [VIDEO]

A 16-Year-old girl, Alice Salaita, had the rare opportunity of 'running' the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi for a day in a symbolic gesture by the embassy to emphasise on the importance of women in leadership. 

According to a report by Citizen Digital on Wednesday, October 3, Salaita met with the Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Anna Jardfelt, and begun her brief 'tenure' after she was picked up in the ambassador's car by Deputy Ambassador, Michael Hjelmaker.

She was driven to the embassy in Nairobi where she was warmly welcomed by Jardleft who took her on an orientation tour.

The Ambassador also took the form one student at Illodokilani Secondary School, Kajiado on a tour of the Somalia Embassy which is hosted in the same compound.

Alice Salaita when she met Anna Jardleft on October 3 at the Sweden Embassy in Nairobi.

The young girl then proceeded to her 'office' where she chaired the weekly meeting with political and trade departmental heads of the embassy to discuss various topical issues among them a feminist policy, Sweden-Kenya interactions on culture and environment.

She also met with the gender and development officers at the embassy where Salaita shared her personal story and challenges she had faced growing up in Kajiado County.

"Getting a golden opportunity to step into the shoes of an ambassador is overwhelming and humbling at the same time. This is a mind-shift to how I have viewed women's leadership in my community. I also hope ambassador Jardleft will visit my school in the near future. I am so excited for the opportunity to be a leader and make decisions on behalf of the ambassador," Salaita narrated.

The ambassador noted that the invitation of the student was symbolic of her commitment towards encouraging young women to take up leadership positions.

"Alice's experience 'taking over' my role as the Ambassador is symbolic in encouraging young women and girls to study hard in school and achieve their career choices in the future. Educating them is the key to empowering the" Jardleft stressed.

The event acted as a call-to-action for radical political change geared towards tearing down barriers of discrimination and prejudice that continue to hold women and girls back.

The initiative was launched to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child that happens every year on October 11.

Below is the video courtesy of Citizen TV: