Following her appointment, the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee vetted and approved her.

“I attribute my career progress over the years, to God’s grace, strong support system from my family, hard work, strong intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, and ability to deliver results through people,” she stated during her vetting.

Susan now becomes the second female deputy governor of CBK. Mrs. Sheila M’Mbijjewe was the first female deputy governor after being appointed to the state bank in June 19, 2015. She was reappointed for a second term in June 2019.

Career

Dr. Koech began life in the civil service as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Wildlife in 2018. She went on to serve as a Principal Secretary in the ministry of East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and regional development.

She describes herself as an ‘anticipatory leader, reflective and self-critical’. The new CBK Deputy Governor states that during her time in the State Department for Wildlife, she pushed for financial sustainability for the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

During her vetting for the CBK role, she told lawmakers that the current interbank foreign exchange market had collapsed and that her vision is to put in place a functional and vibrant interbank forex market, bring down the cost of credit and oversee the acquisition and mergers of banks.

“I want to see a functional and vibrant interbank forex market. Right now, it is not working,” Dr. Koech said during her approval hearings.

She also added that she would seek to bring back the interest rate cap to lower the cost of credit.

“To manage frauds in the banking sector, when a bank is coming up with a new product, before approval of any bank product, all the risk parameters need to be looked at,” she said.

Dr. Koech is a career banker who swapped quiet bank halls for noisy public halls that often comes with ‘mudslinging’ and brushing shoulders with politicians.

Her career was almost brought to a halt after she was charged with corruption over controversial tenders issued for the construction of the Kimwarer and Arror dams projects.

She was, however, turned State witness alongside former Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge in the prosecution of former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.

Education

Dr. Koech holds a doctorate in business administration from Moi University.

The MD wants the government of Kenya to build an underground tunnel linking the Green Park terminal at Uhuru Park to Haile Selassie avenue to ease Uhuru Highway congestion as part of the Sh28 billion Nairobi central railway city project. 

The first phase of the project is expected to cost £80 million (Sh11.7 billion), which will come from the United Kingdom Export Finance. Mainga says the overall scope of phase one’s early works is now underway with the initial task being the construction of a pedestrian footbridge across the Nairobi Railway Yard.

“We have already begun the construction work. The contractor is already on site and soon we will begin seeing changes,” Mr. Mainga said, quoted by Construction Kenya publication.

On Tuesday, the Railway MD told parliament that the country has already received Sh12 billion towards phase one of the project.

Here’s his story as told by wok.

New City under the sun

The project, which is part of the six projects worth Sh500 billion, signed between Kenya and UK during climate conference COP17 held in Egypt, involves construction of a 425-acre urban development on the area between Haile Sellasie Avenue, Uhuru Highway and Bunyala Road – comprising transit stations, homes, offices, among other features.

Kenya Railways owns 292 acres of the 425-acre piece of land.

In December 2022, the first phase of the project worth £80 million (Sh11.9 billion) kicked off. The United Kingdom will build a green city of office blocks, malls and a light industrial hub on Kenya Railways land as a plan to decongest the Central Business District as well as create employment. 

A green city is an urban enclave that incorporates eco-friendly practices, green spaces and supporting technology to reduce air pollution and CO2 emissions, enhance air quality, and protect natural resources.

“The Kings Cross London-style development, backed by £80 million of UK Export Finance, will regenerate Nairobi’s bustling central business district as a green urban environment of the future,” read the statement from the British High Commission in Nairobi.

The new green city, which will be designed by British architects, will comprise hi-tech industries and SMEs and create over 200,000 new jobs. 

Mainga’s Career and Success

Until his appointment as Managing Director, Phillip Mainga was the General Manager Business and Operations at Kenya Railways Corporation.

Phillip Mainga has over two decades of experience in a wide range of fields including corporate planning, project management and business management. He was the business research and general manager at KRC before he took up the position of managing director in an acting capacity in 2018.

“Am a results-oriented leader with over 20 years of experience in Railway Operations. I have a strong track record of performance turnaround. I utilize keen analysis, insights and team approach to drive improvements and implement best practices.” Mainga told the Kenya Engineer publication in 2021.

In 2022, The Board of Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) quietly extended his term, handing him a second three-year term.

Mr. Mainga is credited with the successful operations of the Nairobi Mombasa Madaraka Express Passenger and Freight services, construction and commissioning of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A to Naivasha.

The refitting of Mv- Uhuru, a wagon ferry owned by Kenya Railways which had been lying unattended for the last 11 years and the construction of the Meter Gauge Railway siding to the newly upgraded fuel loading facilities at the Kenya Pipeline Corporation depot in Kisumu is also thanks to Mr. Mainga’s tenacity. 

Education

The Kenya Railways MD holds a master’s degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi.

He also has a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Mysore and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Mysore and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Mysore.

He also undertook a course in Regional Integration in Africa by a joint World Bank Institute and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). 

Mr. Mainga is a professional member of Certified Finance Management for Project Managers, Associate Member MEGADEV Consultants and Associate Member of the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).

The position had been vacant for three years following the resignation of Daniel Manduku in March 2020 under a cloud of controversy.

In a Gazette Notice dated March 10, 2023, Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, announced he had appointed Captain William K. Ruto the new MD of KPA.

“After a rigorous and intensive recruitment process, the Board of Directors has this morning (Friday, March 10) submitted a report and recommendation to my office for the appointment of Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto, having attained the highest aggregate score from the interview process,” Murkomen said in a statement.

According to CS Murkomen, the Authority’s board had received over 75 applications for the position during the recruitment exercise but settled for Ruto as the most qualified candidate. Until this appointment, he was the General Manager of the Kisumu Port.

“It is my belief that his wealth of experience spanning 32 years will be instrumental in ensuring the Authority delivers on its mandate to the people of Kenya and continues to contribute towards the growth of the Kenyan economy,” CS Murkomen said.

Captain Ruto will serve in his new capacity for the next three years.

Career life of Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto

Captain William K. Ruto has 32 years’ experience in the marine sector under his belt. 

He started his career at KPA in 1991 as a Cadet Marine Deck Officer before rising through the ranks to be a Senior Marine Pilot, General Manager, Operations and later a Harbour Master.

Captain Ruto is a trained Mariner by profession. He scaled through the heights from Cadetship to Ship Master. He has worked on board various foreign going vessels for over 9 years. 

Throughout his more than three decade service Captain Ruto has served at sea as a deck officer on board a variety of vessel types, including tankers, container and General Cargo vessels before finally taking command on a General Cargo Ship. 

Education

Capt. William Ruto studied at South Tyneside Marine College, UK for an HND in Nautical Science and attained the highest qualification as a Ship Captain (Class 1 Master Mariner) in 2001. 

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Strategic Management option from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

He is an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute (AF-NI) and a member of the International Harbour Master’s Association (UK).

Capt. Ruto has also attended various local and international seminars and workshops on shipping, maritime, transport and logistics matters. He has done Port Security course at the University of Maryland (USA), IMO course on Port Management and Operations, in France – Port du Havre and several other short courses on port maritime and management.

In 2022, the company was ranked among the Top 100 fast-growing mid-sized companies by KPMG and Business Daily. Since Inception the company’s turnover has grown from between Ksh50 million to Ksh1 billion. 

What’s even better, Polucon Services which today is present in seven African countries and has 100 employees was built from scratch without bank loans.

“We have tripled our turnover with profitability all without bank loans,” Dominic said in an interview with local publication Business Daily, adding, “you can create funds as you grow. We have learnt organic growth from mama mboga, who educates her children successfully by being resilient.”

Dominic Mureithi is the founder of Polucon service. Here is his story as told by WoK.

How Polucon Services was set up

Mr. Mureithi is a food chemist by profession. He studied in Germany and worked in Europe as a laboratory analyst, rising to the level of a laboratory manager at a multinational company.

While in Germany Mureithi harboured ambitions of setting an homegrown company to support trade within and outside of Africa as the food testing industry was dominated by foreigners.

“I realised that in Europe, they create their own jobs, especially for the scientists because scientists control many things in the world, be it agriculture, manufacturing, production, and development. The world is made by science,” he said.

Armed with only the expertise he had learned in the west, Mureithi came home to open his company Polucon services.

No money, No problem

Unlike in the west where scientists are held in high regard, the situation was completely different back at home. No bank would advance them money to buy testing equipments but Mureithi was unfazed. He decided Polucon will grow organically.

The food chemist also went about cutting any unnecessary expenses to save every shilling. Instead of buying a new bed for his small apartment, he bought a desk, chair, computer, and fax machine. He also made sure he had a post office box and telephone while at it.

“We founded the company in 1990 but had to raise funds until 1997 when we began operations. In those days, no bank could lend us money because they did not understand our business and we didn’t have collateral,” he says.

Creating job opportunities for young scientists like him was his fuel and so he set about creating the best company to give foreign companies a run for their money.

“We are involved in checking the quality and safety of drinking water, and food safety analysis,” he says.

The Secret of Polucon Services success

Mr. Mureithi says planning is key especially when one is changing from formal employment to entrepreneurship.

“You must plan clearly for when it rains. I’m here but where do I want to go?” he poses.

On top of that the CEO and Chairman of Polucon Group says an entrepreneur must be trustworthy and whose integrity must be above Caesar’s wife.

“People don’t appreciate how trust, integrity, and being ethical are important – these helped us a great deal,” he says, adding “clients want to feel you are more like a trusted friend than just a business person.”

Being resilient and financially prudent are also life skills that will come handy to any entrepreneur.

“You can create funds as you grow. We have learnt organic growth from mama mboga, who educates her children successfully by being resilient.”

To stay competitive and at par with top companies in the world, In 2005, Polucon went for ISO 9001, an International quality management system and got certified in 2006 followed by Specific Accreditation for competency under the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020.

The move proved a masterstroke

“Certification and accreditation brought us to the world business playing ground.”  Mureithi says.

Today Polucon Services (K) Limited is present in seven countries in East and Central Africa i.e Kenya(HQ) Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan and globally through our network of partners.

Without a doubt Polucon Services has slowly emerged as the leading African Inspection, Verification, Testing, Certification and Pest Control company serving exporters and importers, farmers, processors, packers, manufacturers, and local industries.

The Ex-Music producer who has over 100 hits to his name is quickly becoming a household name in the Kenyan leather industry thanks to his stylish leather bags.

So loved are his luxury bags that top government officials today proudly rock them. Chief Justice Martha Koome and former Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina have been spotted flaunting one of his best selling brands, Wendo Tote bag.

Here is his story as told by WoK.

How JokaJok leather studio came to be

On September 30, 2017, just three months after delivering their daughter Jameela Josiah, Tedd’s wife, Regina Katar, a fashion enthusiast, died of childbirth complications.

Mr. Josiah then plunged himself into the entrepreneurial world as part of his grieving process and that is how JokaJok came to be. The brand derives its name from the initials of his name, his late wife, and their seven-year-old daughter.

“During this journey, I realized different phases require different personalities of me. I became, not only a mum but an entrepreneur, leading me to changing my career while in my forties to becoming a bag maker.” Tedd says.

After the first bags came out of the stitching machines he shared the product on his social media platforms and it was not long before the brand got a buzz. However, it was not all rosy.

The start-up began with one stitching machine, a slash cutter, and an artisan. He sold only two bags in the month the business started.

“I sold one to a pilot and a banker. Each of those bags was Ksh39,000 but I am glad they believed in us,” he says.

Today his home houses the JokaJok leather studio-where they work 24 hours. Shifts are neatly planned to ensure production never stops until it’s Sunday then the routine resumes the next day.

“The leather studio is more spacious than where we were before. We had to move because the business grew and we wanted a decent place for clients who ask to visit the factory,” he says.

How JokaJok bags are marketed. 

Mr. Josiah is a big believer in the power of social media, something he learnt while working as a music producer. The father of one uses Instagram, as his main marketing platform, to reach new clients far and wide.

JokaJok’s Instagram page so far has over 28,000 followers and his personal Instagram page has over 309,000 followers.

“I have never marketed my product any other place other than on my socials and it gives me so much satisfaction to see people believing in a Kenyan brand and willing to put aside a Gucci.”

JokaJok bags up for grabs

Mr. Josiah produces a wide variety of stylish bags from leather cigar pouch, laptop bags, to handbags to suit your every different need.

Wendo Tote, a feminine bag named after JJ, is JokaJok’s best seller.

“Wendo means love, it’s our bestseller. It costs Sh2,400 to purchase the leather alone, now put into consideration all the other factors of production before you can have a finished product, I strongly believe it’s a bargain,” Tedd says.

The prices of the bags range from Ksh 9500 to Ksh 29,500. 

“Leather is expensive to work with, it is a luxurious product because processing and creating hides is an expensive venture. But also you purchase it per square foot and whatever the size of the hide is, is what you buy, it’s never cut into little pieces,” he says.

Since the first bag rolled out of the stitching machine, JokaJok bags popularity have soared and with it the company’s manpower.

“The team is growing with demand, we currently have seven full-time employees. We also outsource when the workload is excess,” he says.

Today, JokaJok not only sells locally, but also internationally. Tedd says he has customers in Nigeria, South Africa, the US, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Dubai, and South Sudan.

Mamba Crocodile Farm popularly known as Mamba Village is owned by former Nyali Member of Parliament, Hezron Awiti. The expansive farm was opened five decades ago. 

According to the investor, the farm is worth more than Ksh250 million.

Here’s the story of the crocodile farm in Africa as told by WoK.

How Awiti purchased and developed the farm

In 1995, Mr. Awiti bought the farm from a foreigner who used it mainly as a tourist site. 

Initially the farm used to be a quarry and a dumpsite before it was converted into a conservation area for crocodiles. The legislator then switched to commercial farming after he learnt that crocodile skins were a lucrative business in overseas markets.

“While on trips abroad, I came across items such as handbags, shoes, belts and watch straps made from crocodile skin which only the well-off people can afford to buy,” said Awiti.

Today, Mr. Awiti is one of the big players in Africa who feeds the international luxury brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Paladino and Chanel with crocodile skins to make fashion accessories for the rich.

He exports the skins to markets such as Japan, Israel and South Africa. 

A crocodile skin Birkin handbag could cost anything from Ksh3 million to Ksh30 million. The farm slaughters between 1,000 and 1,800 crocodiles a year. 

A tour of Mamba Crocodile Farm

The Crocodile farm features an all-inclusive tour as well as presentations on the life cycle and behaviour of crocodiles. An adult crocodile can weigh up to 800 kilograms and grow five metres long.

The most famous crocodile here is a croc named ‘Big Daddy’. It was brought to Mamba Crocodile Farm in 1986 after killing five people in River Tana.

The farm has more than 10,000 crocodiles including the younger ones aged one year to the oldest crocodile ‘Big Daddy’. The farm has 21 ponds with the largest ones having the capacity to house more than 1,000 crocodiles.

Apart from these attractions, the farm also houses a Snake Park, Museum, Fish Farm and Aquarium. Along with this, it also houses a botanical garden and a horse and camel riding area.

The best time to visit is during feeding time, when all crocodiles can be seen clearly and some even leap from the water into the air to snatch meat dangling.

Take a bite of Crocodile Meat

Locals and foreigners usually visit the farm to view the crocodiles. They can also enjoy a meal of the reptiles.

Crocodile meat tastes like fish or pork and it is even crispier according to online reviews. 

A quarter a kilo of crocodile meat costs Ksh1,000 at the Mamba Restaurant as per their 2017 rates, while two pieces of mishkaki with accompaniments costs Ksh500.

You can also buy crocodile meat to prepare at home at the farm. A kilo of fresh crock meat ranges between Ksh4,000 and Ksh5,000 at the restaurant.

Crocodile Farm business

Crocodile farming is very lucrative but comes with a catch. It is very capital intensive especially when setting it up. The returns are not immediate and only comes after the crocs have matured and can be harvested.

Before setting up a crocodile farm one is also required to apply and be issued with a licence by Kenya Wildlife Services.

A crocodile aged between four to five years is sold at more than Ksh20,000 while those aged above 10 years fetch between Ksh40,000 and Ksh50,000 depending on the length and health of the skin.

“We have supplied hatchlings to many farms in the region and beyond. So we do not sell eggs despite them being as tasty as chicken eggs,” says Mr. Awiti. 

The female crocodiles at the farm lay between seven and 77 eggs in a season. The farm breeds crocodiles using an incubator where they put eggs collected to hatch. 

The farmer rears chicken which has greatly reduced his reliance on Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

Here is his story as told by WoK. 

Biogas

Antony says he collects the poop in a bucket every morning and then mixes it with water before pouring the mixture into his biogas digester which then produces biogas. The gas can power anything from an electric kettle to a generator.

He used to use cow dung as the main material to make biogas, however, he stopped using it when he researched and realised chicken poop can do the job just as well.

Once everything is mixed up in the biodigester, biogas then flows out through a pipe that is connected to various power outlets from cooking stoves to farm equipment, phone chargers and shower heaters.

“I don’t need to worry about anything like running out of gas or I don’t have money to buy gas. As long as my chicken keeps on pooping I am sorted,” said Antony.

The Kenyan farmer even powers his car using the same. He accomplishes this by simply connecting a pipe from his biogas plant to a generator that then charges his electric car.

Kenya is leading Africa in biogas

With over 17,000 domestic biodigesters, Kenya is the leader in Biogas technology in Africa.

The technology has been around in Kenya since the 1950s but was neglected until the Kenya Biogas Program (KBP) began promoting efforts to scale-up and commercialise the sector around 2009.

Since then, more than 100,000 people have gained access to biogas in their homes, more than anywhere else on the continent, says KBP.

There are over 8,000 biogas plants in Kenya with the potential to produce over 1,000 MW of electricity.

“Biogas will be part of the energy mix for the future to come,”  said Tim Mungai, a business development manager at KBP.

Local and foreign companies – including Dutch outfit SimGas, Mexican firm Sistema, and HomeBiogas, an Israeli manufacturer – are also rolling out new technologies in East Africa.

His appointment comes at a time the French multinational retail chain is seeking to open more outlets in Kenya and Uganda. Mr. Orcet takes over from Frank Moreau who retired from the company after 23 years of service.

“Mr Orcet assumed his new role on 1st March 2023 and will oversee operations of Carrefour in East Africa,” said the firm.

Here’s a look at his CV.

Education

Mr. Orcet holds an International Business Degree (BTS) from ESCOM. He has also attended London Business School where he undertook a Strategic Decision Making Process and Risk Management program. In 2011, Mr. Orcet studied the Senior Executive Development Program at HEC Paris Business School.

Career

Mr. Orcet is a Senior executive Retail Manager with over 25 Years of experience in Operation and Management field , strategy and business expansion and e commerce. 

He has worked at different Carrefour stores across the world for over two decades climbing up the corporate ladder from Assistant General Manager position to Senior Executive positions.

Prior to being appointed Kenya’s new country manager, Mr. Orcet served as head of operations and commercial for the MAF Carrefour in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Before that he was the country manager of Carrefour Georgia between May 2008 – Aug 2021. Between Sep 1993 – Dec 1999, Mr. Orcet worked as a store manager at E. Leclerc, located in Ouest, France marking his entry into retail business.

In Kenya, Carrefour now operates 19 stores countrywide, with 15 located in Nairobi, while Kisumu and Mombasa host two stores each. Dubai-based Majid Al-Futtaim (MFA) is the exclusive holder of Carrefour’s franchise in Kenya.

Carrefour competes with rivals such as Naivas and Quickmart -which has also been on an expansion trail fuelled by private equity investors.

The Kenyan Woman is married to Dirk Nowitzki, one of the greatest and wealthiest players to come from Germany and grace the American National Basketball Association (NBA).

Here’s her story as told by WoK. 

Early Life

Jessica was born and raised in the city of Gävle, Sweden. Her father is Swedish and her mother, Njeri Waikwa, is a Kenyan from Nanyuki. She grew up alongside her twin younger brothers, Marcus and Martin Olsson, both of whom are footballers.

While her brothers spent hours in the football field every day, she developed a deep interest in art. She was also curious about her background, both Swedish and Kenyan.

Career

We were delighted to welcome Jessica Olsson, the Kenyan wife of billionaire NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, to explore the Nairobi National Museum.
Accompanied by our very own Director of Antiquities, Sites and Monuments, and senior research scientist Dr. Fredrick Manthi, Jessica, pic.twitter.com/ORbi01JQO6

— National Museums of Kenya (@museumsofkenya) March 5, 2023

Olsson studied art during her time at school. Before she met with Dirk Nowitzki she was employed at Goss-Michael Foundation art gallery in Dallas as an associate director.

According to reputable media, Olson has considerable net worth estimated authoritatively at over $1 million, as the director of her art gallery in Dallas.

On top of that she is also known to be a proprietor of her husband’s holdings. Dirk Nowitski has a net worth of $140 million, with his annual salary being an average of $22.7 million. 

Nowitski has earned an incredible $250 million just from his NBA salary with the Dallas Mavericks, but has other sources of income in endorsement deals, primarily with the shoe brand Nike.

Life with Dirk Nowitzki

Jessica Olsson first met Dirk Nowitzki during a charity event for Sports for Education and Economic Development (SEED) Project in Dallas in 2010. At the auction, Dirk reportedly made a bid for an item so that he would get to meet Jessica. 

“I think we just clicked intellectually. She likes art, she likes sports. Her brothers both played soccer. She grew up around sports. We both love tennis and we love to travel. We both love kids and family,” Nowitzki told Dallas News at the time.

Jessica and Dirk became engaged on Valentine’s Day of 2012, and got legally married on July 20, 2012, in their Dallas home. Before the ceremony, the two also took part in a traditional Kikuyu Ruracio, where Dirk was asked to find his wife amongst five veiled women covered in leso from head to toe to show his love – he didn’t miss her and he soon fish her out to much joy and amusement of the locals.

The couple then left for their honeymoon in the Caribbean.

Family Life

The couple welcomed their first child together in July 2013, a daughter named Malaika. Two years later, they gave birth to their second child, a son named Max. Then in 2016, they had their third child, another son named Morris. 

While the couple is raising their children as American citizens, they go out of their way to ensure their kids grow up to become international citizens. They often take them on trips to Kenya, Sweden, and Germany to expose them to the cultures and traditions of their parents. 

They live in a neighborhood called Millionaire’s Row, with a residence that is valued at $8 million.  

That was her fate until a guardian angel in the form of her brother, Omar Sheikh Farah,  stepped in and changed the course of her life.

Here is her story as told by WoK.

Early Life

Nuriya Farah was born and raised in Wajir. At the time, education in general was seen as a waste of time and education for girls was unimaginable.

Her Father was a senior chief, who had four wives, and only the boys in her family, and indeed the whole community, were the ones sent to school.

Things took a dramatic turn, however, when Nuriya’s brother, Omar Sheikh Farah, who was an educationist at the time stepped in and had a talk with their father. He convinced their father that since Nuriya’s mother (who was the third wife) did not have a son, she should be sent to school.

It wasn’t that easy though and when the community heard about attempts to take Nuriya to school they were not pleased. Women friends and relatives came flocking to their home to talk to Nuriya’s mother, pleading with her to dissuade Nuriya from going to school.

Thankfully, her parents didn’t bulge and decided to send her to school.

Education

In 1963, Nuriya was enrolled in Wajir Primary School. At the time, there were no schools for girls in the area, so she was the only girl in the boys school. 

At school, Nuriya had to quickly develop a tough skin. One of her biggest challenges was the taunting she got from her male classmates who argued girls didn’t have brains.

When she beat them during exams, they claimed it was only because the teachers were helping her. While this was going on a number of relatives regularly visited her home on a mission to save her from “Western education”.

It took a delegation of Ministry of Education officials from the province, led by Shem Watuma, the Provincial Education Officer at the time, and her brother Omar, to convince the family that high school education would be good for her.

She then enrolled in Kangaru High School in Embu for her A Levels. Later she got admitted to the University of Nairobi where, in 1979, she attained a Bachelor’s degree in Education focusing on history and English literature.

After a long tumultuous journey, upon her graduation Nuriya effectively  became the first woman from the North Eastern region to attain a university degree.

Career

Nuriya was appointed the headmistress of NorthEastern Province (NEP) Girls High School in Garissa in 1982 and held the position until 1990.

During her tenure at NEP Girls High School, Nuriya managed to have two girls admitted to university, which was something highly unusual at the time.

She says she chose to study education so she could give back to her community and try to ensure that other girls from her region didn’t struggle to get an education.

Today Nuriya is seen as a pioneer of girl-child education in the region. She is the founder of Gargaar Kenya, a Non-Governmental Organization that aims to be a leading Girl Child and Women promotion Center – Promoting, Empowering and Sensitizing The Girl Child And Women On Education and other Developmental Issues.