Profile

I joined the KEMRI Wellcome Trust as a PHD student in 2015. I am conducting a research project on ethical issues for public health surveillance in Africa.

Many people in Africa live and die without details about their lives and causes of death being recorded. This makes it difficult to determine whether public health interventions work.

Various programmes have been established in Africa to record births, deaths and migration. My project is exploring the benefits of these programmes and how they should collect public health data in a manner that is respectful to individuals and communities.

6.15am: Wake up and lie in bed for 15 minutes!

6.30 – 7.30: Light exercises, make breakfast and get ready for work.

8.00: Arrive at the KEMRI Research Centre. That walk to work helps me gather my thoughts on activities planned for the day.

8.00 – 9.00: Spend the first 30 minutes writing on my PHD topic. I really have to write as soon as I get into the office, it enables me to outline activities and ideas for further exploration. This sets the pace for my day. Check and respond to emails.

9.00 – 1.00: Mostly developing my research proposals, analysing data, writing reports, making arrangements for field work and other tasks agreed upon with my supervisors.

1.00 – 2.00: Lunch break at the KEMRI cafeteria.

2.00 – 5.30 – While I prefer writing during the first half of the day, I find the afternoons best suited to reading. Occasionally, my day will include administrative tasks, attending seminars and taking online courses.

5.30 – 7.00: Back home, go for a run, a swim or play a game of football with KEMRI Wazee FC!

7.00 – 8.00: Supper.

8.00 – Midnight: Literature review, analyses, writing and completing other tasks from the day.

During the last year of my secondary education, I was selected to attend an international education fair at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi. Together with several of my schoolmates, we had the opportunity to talk to representatives of various universities from Kenya, United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Malaysia among others. This made me aware of the training opportunities available not only in Kenya but also in other countries. It was a very enjoyable and memorable day that strengthened my determination to pursue a research career. If I win the prize, I will support students to visit a research centre or attend an international education fair.