As the golden rays of the 29th day of November 2024 illuminated the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) graduation pavilion, 10 graduates from the KEMRI Graduate School stood poised before the congregation, epitomizing determination, patience, resilience, and realized dreams. This wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a triumph—a celebration of late-night study sessions, long hours in the laboratories, shared laughter, and unequivocal perseverance.
The 10 graduates represented diverse disciplines, including one MSc in Applied Epidemiology (Lily Muthoni), three MSc in Public Health (Gladys Muthoni, Rose Anyango, and Elizabeth Njambi), three MScs in Medical Microbiology (Purity Nakhayo, Susan Wambui, and Cecilia Wanjiru), and three MSc in Molecular Medicine (Irene Karegi, Joanne Auma, and Jonathan Mnkai). Notably, the cohort comprised nine female students and one male student, who hailed from Tanzania.
The number of graduates in November 2024 was not colossal, but the impact was profound. Each of the 10 students carried a unique story: some had to balance schoolwork with full-time jobs and families, others became the first in their families to graduate, while others had to overcome personal loss and grief to cross this finish line.
Exiting the KEMRI Graduate School, these 10 graduates have not just been ushered into the world of research but have also launched toward their dreams. And though their paths may divaricate, this moment will forever unite them—a testament to the potency of perseverance and the elegance of shared success.
Accompanying the students during this auspicious occasion were Dr. Elizabeth Matey, Dr. Festus Tolo (representing the Faculty), and KGS staff, whose guidance and support played an integral role in this remarkable achievement. The KEMRI Graduate School continues to train postgraduate students in health research through opportunities presented by the well-established medical research facilities and global research expertise available at KEMRI. The goal of the Graduate School remains this: To develop a human resource base equipped with updated research skills and knowledge to provide solutions to the rapidly growing health care delivery challenges facing Kenya and Africa at large. A combination of academic, research, and training capacity available at KEMRI makes postgraduate study at the KEMRI Graduate School a fertile environment for young scientists aspiring to build a rewarding career in research.
