Google has honoured two Kenyan women in a newly launched platform on the Google Arts and Culture Exhibition mobile application.
Dr Esther Onyango, a medical scientist together with Kenya's Nobel Laureate the late Prof Wangari Maathai were recognised for their exemplary work as Google launched the Women in Culture hub.
In a statement released on Friday, February 11, it was revealed that the new platform would tell the stories of women who have had an impact in the society through their career and advocacy work for the last 174 years.
"Google today launched a Women in Culture hub celebrating notable achievements by women in the civil rights struggle, sports, arts to fashion, and in space exploration to medicine.
"Among the heroines are two Kenyans, Climate Change and Health Research Scientist, Dr Esther Onyango, and Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wangari Maathai," read the statement.
In the new platform, Google tells the life stories of the two heroines and their remarkable and noble works to provide solutions to the world.
Onyango was honored for her health research works that have contributed to the policy development of climate change and medicine.
"Onyango, a Climate Change and Health Research Scientist at Griffith University, has advocated for women’s inclusion at key decision-making bodies on matters of climate change action at national, regional, and global forums.
"Her work defines her as a holistic thinker, moving beyond discipline-specific boundaries to develop novel ways of addressing the connections between climate change, mosquito-borne diseases, the environment, and human health," Google added.
On the other hand, Wangari was honored for her environmental advocacy programs that saw the preservation of Karura forest during the reign of the late President Daniel Arap Moi.
"She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to become a Doctor of Philosophy, receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Nairobi. In 1977, Prof Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organisation that focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights.
"Wangari is remembered for converting Kenyan ecological debate into mass action for reforestation, an initiative that saw her being awarded the Right Livelihood Award," read the statement in part.
