By Patrick Amunavi
Forbes Africa has listed Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology student Dr. Joan Ruguru Kimani as one of the Top 30 under 30 class of 2022 achievers in the latest ranking.
Dr. Ruguru, who is set to graduate with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree during the 38th Graduation Ceremony on June 28, 2022, was outstanding in her work on Child Health and Parenting.
Ruguru Kimani, as she prefers to be called, and the 2020 winner of the Top 35 under 35 Youth of the Year Award, continues to trail the blaze, bagging accolades and recognitions, courtesy of her passion for matters child health and parenting.
She is arguably one of the brightest young talents with their exceptional work as innovative thinkers on the cusp of shaping the continent’s trajectory in various fields. And for Ruguru Kimani, it is the area of Child Health and Parenting.
Having already taken the Hippocratic Oath that was administered by the Medical Council in February this year, Dr. Ruguru has literally seen her star rise steadily.
She is poised to represent Kiambu County in the battle for ‘Ms. President Contest’ in the Academy that is sponsored by the European Union, United Nations and the Canadian Government under a programme run by Media Focus on Africa.
Her passionate engagement on Child Health and Parenting issues has now catapulted her to the continent’s limelight following her latest recognition and listing as one of the Top 30 under 30 Africans by Forbes AFRICA.
Ruguru is one of four Kenyans who made it to the coveted list of 30 individuals from Africa honoured by Forbes AFRICA in the class of 2022 for their exceptional contribution to the growth of the continent.
Ruguru Kimani topped in the Child Health and Parenting category, as her counterparts from Kenya Elsa Majimbo was lauded for her creativity as a social media influencer, Sylvia Gathoni was recognized for championing E-Sports in the continent, and Charlot Magayi was recognized for her endorsement of clean energy.
According to Forbes, “The list features Africans under the age of 30 who are innovative entrepreneurs, tech geeks, sports stars and influential creatives contributing to the continent’s growth story.”
Ruguru was humble in accepting the accolades, saying it is an inspiration to the youth that passion and hobbies can be turned into professional ventures.
“I feel it is a validation of my work, and a lesson on consistency in projects that one is interested. The fact that I have been doing it pro bono shows that people can be rewarded from giving back freely to the community,” she said.
Ruguru Kimani, an alumnus of Maryhill Girls, says she is very clear in her mind what she wants to achieve.
“My main goal is to get into the global health and policy-making space in regard to child health,”she opines.
Ruguru, whose future dream is to hold a position at the World Health Organization (WHO) focusing on improving the lives of children, says she wants to ensure her passion in child health is achieved.
She adds: “I hope to be a successful medical doctor and later, specialize in Paediatrics and Child Health.”
She says JKUAT School of Medicine has given her a rare opportunity and a conducive environment to grow as a writer and medical student.
In 2020, Ruguru, an articulate medical student in the School of Medicine, won the Top 35 Under 35 Youth of the Year Award in the Health Services category for her compelling phenomenal youth engagement accomplishments, particularly her exquisite exposition of child health and parenting issues.
The Founder/CEO of Exciting Parenting also runs a blog www.excitingparenting.com, a vibrant platform where she articulates important information on children and parenting.
“I have received feedback indicating that I have been able to impact lives of young parents through creating skills and knowledge on important parenting and healthcare topics, such as danger signs of illnesses, essential First Aid skills and management of bedwetting in children.
Ruguru believes her strong writing skills were instrumental in her nomination as well as handling a technical niche of parenting and child healthcare without the real practical experience of being a parent.
As an alumnus of Forbes class of 2022, Dr. Ruguru is shining a light on the issues plaguing Africa’s growth in a pandemic era and also working towards shifting the narrative in innovative ways.
