KFC Africa Celebrates 55 Trailblazing Women for International Women’s Day 2026

March 4, 2026 Majira Media

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 3, 2026 — As part of its International Women’s Day celebrations, KFC Africa is recognising 55 exceptional women from across the continent whose contributions are transforming communities and advancing gender equality.

Among them is Lesego Chombo, who, after being crowned Miss Botswana in 2022, established a foundation to support disadvantaged youth and parents in rural areas. Following her tenure as Miss World Africa in November 2024, the 26-year-old made history as Botswana’s youngest cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs. She is currently spearheading a Gender-Based Violence Bill focused on victim protection, care, support and prevention.

Also honoured is Raïssa Banhoro, who tackled barriers to women’s digital literacy in Côte d’Ivoire by launching Lucie, the country’s first mobile literacy app with local-language voice assistance. She later introduced a free, intensive digital training model for young people not in employment, education or training, achieving a 100% employment rate for graduates.

“These are not just stories of individual achievement,” said Akhona Qengqe, General Manager of KFC Africa. “These are stories of women who give Africa more. They give access where there was exclusion, opportunity where prospects were limited, and hope where there was none.”

Power of Giving

The 55 women — one for each year KFC has operated in Africa — reflect the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, which highlights the multiplier effect of women’s empowerment.

Other honourees include:

Nice Leng’ete of Kenya, who successfully advocated for Maasai elders to abandon female genital mutilation in 2014 and, through her work with Amref Health Africa, has helped more than 21,000 girls avoid the practice.
Dr. Germaine Retofa of Madagascar, who has transformed maternal healthcare in one of the country’s poorest regions, building systems that prioritise survival regardless of income or location.
Alexandra Machado of Mozambique, who pioneered a circular mentorship model benefiting 25,000 women and tripling school transition rates, demonstrating the national impact of investing in female leadership.

“For this year’s list, we intentionally sought women whose impact may not fill stadiums but fills hearts,” Qengqe said, noting that honourees range from lawyers and healthcare professionals to technologists, entrepreneurs, and community organisers. While some are widely known, many serve quietly, offering mentorship, protection, knowledge, and opportunity without recognition.

The Ripple Effect

Nolo Thobejane, Chief People, Culture and Purpose Officer at KFC Africa, said the Give to Gain theme aligns closely with the organisation’s empowerment initiatives.

Through programmes such as Add Hope, which provides meals to vulnerable children via women-led feeding centres, Women on the Move, which supports female leadership development, and the Streetwise Academy, which equips young women with accredited qualifications, KFC has witnessed firsthand how investment in women strengthens families, businesses and communities.

Thobejane added that many women within the KFC Africa network give back daily — mentoring young professionals, running after-school initiatives, and creating pathways for female entrepreneurship — often without fanfare.

When Communities Gain, Africa Rises

Despite stalled progress toward gender equality — with the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2025 projecting that parity in sub-Saharan Africa could still be more than a century away — KFC Africa says the stories of these 55 women prove that meaningful change is possible now.

“These women are not prepared to wait 107 years,” Qengqe said. “They are giving today so their communities can gain today. And when communities gain, Africa rises.”