Purity Ngina’s journey from a modest village in Nyeri County to becoming Kenya’s youngest PhD holder in Biomathematics is a story of resilience, determination, and triumph.
Despite an early academic setback, she has emerged as a prominent figure in education and public service, earning recognition as a trailblazer at the age of 28.
Ngina serves as the Commission Secretary and CEO of the National Gender and Equality Commission, making her the youngest CEO of a Constitutional Commission since her appointment in 2024.
In this role, she leads national efforts to advance equality, protect rights, and champion inclusion for marginalized groups.
Before her appointment, she worked as the Regional Manager at Zizi Afrique Foundation, where she advanced programs in education, skills development, and youth empowerment.
Purity Ngina Early Childhood
The youngest of two siblings, Purity Ngina was raised in the small village of Mbiriri in Kieni East, Nyeri County, by her single mother.
She scored just 235 marks in her KCPE but persevered through her studies.
Upon her mother’s persuasion, she retook the exam and ended up scoring 369 marks.
Tragically, her mother passed away in 2017.
The loss of her mother was a devastating blow for Purity, who had been her constant pillar of support throughout her education.
She often wished her mother could witness her achieving a PhD, and even in her absence, Purity was determined to realize that dream and honor her mother’s legacy.
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Educational Background
Purity Ngina earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology from Strathmore University, where she studied from 2016 to 2018.
She also pursued a PhD in Biomathematics at Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg in 2017.
Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Ngina obtained a master’s degree in applied mathematics from Egerton University between 2013 and 2015.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in education (Mathematics and Chemistry) at Egerton University from 2009 to 2013, graduating with First Class Honours.
Career Background
Purity Ngina currently serves as a Lecturer at Strathmore University, a position she has held since July 2018.
At just 28, she has established a strong presence at the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences, contributing to both lecturing and research in her field.
Prior to her lecturing role, Dr. Ngina worked as a Doctoral Fellow at Strathmore University from January 2016 to June 2018, where she focused on her PhD research in Biomathematics while supporting academic programs at the institute.
She was recently awarded The Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear by President William Ruto, last year, 2024, during the annual Jamhuri Day celebration.
For her PhD accomplishment, she earned the much-coveted STEM Award at the African Women Diplomatic Forum in Canada in the year 2019.
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