Meet the first black woman from Kenya to get a PhD in Nuclear Physics from the University of Connecticut
Dr Mokaya achieved the feat despite nearly missing her career in Physics
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![Graça Machel was born in 1945 [CGTN]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Graça Machel was born in 1945 [CGTN]")
The Pangani Girls High school alumnus said in an interview that the feat did not come easily given that she nearly missed her career in Physics.
Dr Mokaya scored 68% in Physics, narrowly missing the 70% cut off mark for sciences.
It took her dad's intervention to have her teacher allow her carry on with the subject on condition that she would perform.
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"My Physics teacher Mr. Orinda, saw how distressed I was and knowing my potential told the deputy principal that he had allowed me in the Physics class on condition that I had to perform. Let’s just say that I worked hard and it paid off. I got an “A” in Physics when I sat for my KCSE exam," she told the African Warrior Magazine.
Dr Mokaya later enrolled at theJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya to pursue a Bachelor of science degree in Physics.
Second class honours
However, despite four years of arduous work, fate was still not on Dr Mokaya's side as she graduated with a Second Class Honours, lower division.
"I had never felt so distressed in my life."
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However, after working for as a banker for seven months, Dr Mokaya was persuaded by her boyfriend-turned-husband to enrol for a masters degree at Binghamton University (SUNY) where she was accepted.
She did a master’s degree (M.Sc. Physics) and soon after graduating, she applied for a PhD Program at the University of Connecticut in 2010.
Dr Mokaya recalls that 2 years after getting a daughter, the task became more strenuous.
"So here I had to balance being a mum, a wife and a PhD student. Honestly this was not an easy task....I thank God for my husband. He has been the best support system."
PhD journey
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"I recognized that I wanted to be a scientist at an early age and as soon as I learned to be a scientist is a profession like any other, I promised to do whatever it takes to get that which my heart wanted."
Dr Mokaya noted that a dedicated support system is very vital in a PhD journey adding that it can get stressful sometimes.
"I was the only black Physics PhD female (student) in my department and honestly, I did not focus so much on this, so I never quite felt any different. I had very supportive colleagues who made graduate school awesome."
She concluded by saying: “I want everyone to know that anyone can achieve anything you want in life… Challenges along the way should propel you to keep going and not discourage you.”
“If I could influence more women to pursue STEM related subjects, then I will be the happiest person.”
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