Purity Ngina is a prominent Kenyan academic and the CEO of the National Gender and Equality Commission.
Born in 1990 in Nyeri County, she became Kenya’s youngest Ph.D. holder in Biomathematics at age 28 from Strathmore University.
Ngina has worked as a lecturer and was the Regional Manager at Zizi Afrique Foundation, focusing on education and competency-based learning.
She is also involved in various boards and has authored multiple research papers, particularly on HIV/AIDS modeling.
Education
Ngina’s academic journey has laid a strong foundation for her career.
She earned her Ph.D. in Biomathematics from Strathmore University, making her the youngest Ph.D. holder in Kenya at the age of 28.
Her undergraduate studies were completed at Egerton University, where she graduated with first-class honors in Education Science, specializing in Mathematics and Chemistry.
Following this, she obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, further enhancing her expertise in mathematical modeling and analysis.
Career
From 2016 to 2020, Ngina served as a lecturer at Strathmore University, where she taught courses related to financial engineering and actuarial science.
In this role, she not only imparted knowledge but also mentored students and engaged in research activities that contributed significantly to the academic community.
Her research efforts have resulted in several publications, particularly focusing on HIV/AIDS modeling and other public health issues through the lens of mathematics.
Before becoming the CEO of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Ngina was the Research and Assessment Manager at the Zizi Afrique Foundation.
In this capacity, she played a key role in implementing education programs aimed at improving learning outcomes across Kenya.
In July 2024, Ngina was appointed as the CEO of the National Gender and Equality Commission, an organization pivotal in promoting gender equality and addressing issues related to discrimination against marginalized groups in Kenya.
Under her leadership, the NGEC aims to advocate for policies that support gender equality, conduct research to inform best practices, engage with communities to raise awareness about gender issues, and collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.
Ngina actively participates in initiatives that promote social justice and equality, leveraging her academic background to influence policy and practice.
Recognition
In March 2019, Ngina was awarded the STEM Award by the African Women Diplomatic Forum in Ottawa, Canada, highlighting her contributions to science and technology.
Additionally, she was nominated as a Newsmaker Person of the Year in 2018, further underscoring her influence and impact in her field.
