Chief Justice Martha Koome has heaped praises on the new CEO of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) after swearing her in on Monday, July 29, 2024.
Dr Purity Ngina is a lady of many firsts, among them being the youngest PhD holder in biomathematics Kenya in June 2018, at only 28 years of age.
Speaking after swearing the young academician, Koome said Ngina’s appointment underscores a new phase in the country where young people are recognised and trusted in leadership positions.
“Dr Ngina’s appointment shows that our nation is increasingly acknowledging the potential and capability of young people. As a believer in the capability of young people myself, I am excited that the Commission has seen it fit to appoint a young competent person to be the driver of its programmes and work,” Koome remarked.
Koome urged Ngina to be a voice for the voiceless and the marginalised in society, stating that her new position presented an opportunity to make a difference.
“The Constitution intends for the National Gender and Equality Commission to play the crucial role of fostering an inclusive society that values the contributions and rights of all its citizens. It is intended to be a facilitator of our Constitution’s vision of a just and equitable society,” Koome added.
Who is Purity Ngina?
Before making headlines in 2018 after she became the youngest PhD holder in Kenya at 28 years, Ngina was simply ‘a young girl from the slopes of Mount Kenya’ as she aptly describes herself in her LinkedIn bio.
But even before that, Ngina who hails from Nyeri County’s Kyeni village sat her KCPE in 2002 and got 235 marks.
She would, however, repeat the class the following year and score 368, setting her on a successful path which would make her name etched in the books of Kenyan history.
She joined Tumu Tumu Girls’ School and scored a B+ before joining Egerton University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
During her studies as Ngina admitted in an earlier interview, her mother struggled to pay her school fees and be her mentor and support system. She would, however, lose her mother, further throwing her young life into uncertainty.
“Her death made me work even harder because I wanted to prove to myself that as much as she was my greatest pillar, she is gone but still left someone who can stand on her own. It pushed me somehow to even work harder,” she remarked.
After getting First-class honours in her bachelor’s degree, Ngina’s commitment saw her earn a full scholarship to study for a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics.
She finished the course and enrolled for Biomathematics doctorate studies at Strathmore University where she was a part-time lecturer.
In June 2018, she made national headlines after becoming the country’s youngest PhD holder. The same year, she was a nominee for the Newsmaker Person of the Year.
Also, Ngina received a STEM award in Canada for the African Women Diplomatic Forum in 2019.
In her free time, Ngina plays peekaboo with her two kids.