Cecilia Wangechi Mwathi facts for kids

Cecilia Wangechi Mwathi (born May 15, 1963 – died August 17, 2011) was a brilliant Kenyan mathematician and a strong leader for workers' rights. She made history by becoming the first woman in Kenya to be a mathematics professor. She was well-known for fighting for better education and for inspiring young girls in Kenya to study science, technology, and math.

Early Life and Learning

Cecilia was born on May 15, 1963, in a small village called Kaigonde in Kenya. She was one of eight children in a family that didn't have much money. She went to school in Gichira, walking about 5 kilometers barefoot every day to get there.

Later, she attended Mugoiri Girls High School and Chania High School. She then studied to become a math teacher at Kenyatta University, earning her first degree in 1987. For a few years, she taught at Garissa High School and Kenya High School.

In 1991, she went back to Kenyatta University and earned a master's degree in math in 1992. From 1995 to 1998, she studied for her Ph.D. at the University of Zimbabwe. She finished her Ph.D. in 1998. Her special study was about advanced math topics called Groups of Units in Algebraic Number Fields of Fourth and Eighth Degrees.

Working as a Professor

In 1992, Dr. Mwathi started working at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as an assistant lecturer. She became a full lecturer in 1995 and a senior lecturer in 2000.

In 2005, she became a leader for the teachers' union at JKUAT. In 2006, there was a big problem at the university because teachers were not being paid on time. Dr. Mwathi became a main voice for the teachers. After the teachers went on strike in October 2006, she and another union leader were let go from their jobs.

However, in 2008, a new leader, Mabel Imbuga, became the vice-chancellor of JKUAT. She decided to bring Dr. Mwathi back to her teaching position. In 2010, Dr. Mwathi was named an associate professor.

Dr. Mwathi also helped organize a big math conference at JKUAT in 2007. She was also the main editor for the Journal of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, which was published by JKUAT.

She passed away on August 17, 2011, in Nairobi after being sick for a long time. She left behind three daughters and two foster children. JKUAT held a special service to remember her on August 24, 2011.