Born: 1963
Died: 2011 (Nairobi, Kenya)
Biography:
Cecilia Wangechi Mwathi (15 May 1963 – 17 August 2011) was a Kenyan mathematician and union activist. She was the first woman in Kenya to become a mathematics professor and was known for both her activism for higher education and her efforts in inspiring Kenyan girls to study science, technology, and mathematics.
Mwathi was born on 15 May 1963 in Kaigonde, a village in Kenya near Gichira. She grew up as the fifth of eight children in a poor family. Despite the difficulties, she was determined to pursue education. Mwathi was educated in Gichira and had to walk 5km barefoot every day to reach the school. Her passion for learning led her to Mugoiri Girls High School and Chania High School. In 1987, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Kenyatta University.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Mwathi worked as a high school teacher at Garissa High School and Kenya High School. However, she had a thirst for knowledge and decided to further her education. In 1991, she returned to Kenyatta University and earned a master’s degree in mathematics the following year. Seeking to expand her expertise, Mwathi became a doctoral student at the University of Zimbabwe from 1995 to 1998. During this time, she also worked as a mathematics instructor in Kenya. In 1998, she successfully completed her Ph.D. with a dissertation on Groups of Units in Algebraic Number Fields of Fourth and Eighth Degrees, focusing on algebraic number theory.
Mwathi’s academic career blossomed when she joined the faculty of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as an assistant lecturer in 1992. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a lecturer in 1995 and a senior lecturer in 2000. Her dedication to both her students and the field of mathematics earned her recognition and respect.
In 2005, Mwathi took on a new role as the secretary general of the UASU-JKUAT faculty union chapter, further highlighting her commitment to improving higher education in Kenya. She tirelessly advocated for the rights and fair treatment of faculty members, especially in relation to timely payment. In 2006, when JKUAT faced a crisis over its failure to pay faculty members on time, Mwathi became a leading representative for the faculty.
However, her activism came at a cost. Mwathi and another union leader, Moses Muchina, were fired from their faculty positions after the faculty went on strike in October 2006. The Kenyan courts initially upheld their firing in 2008. Nevertheless, when Mabel Imbuga became the vice-chancellor of JKUAT later that year, she announced an amnesty on the issue and reinstated Mwathi to her professorship, with the condition that she would not pursue further legal action.
In recognition of her contributions to the field of mathematics, Mwathi was named an associate professor in 2010. She continued to be involved in academia and served as the hosting chair and convener of the Second Africa Regional Congress of the International Commission on Mathematics Instruction, held at JKUAT in 2007. Mwathi also held the position of editor in chief of the Journal of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, published by JKUAT.
Tragically, Cecilia Wangechi Mwathi passed away on 17 August 2011 at the Nairobi Hospital after a long illness. Her legacy, however, lives on through her three daughters and two foster children. JKUAT held a requiem mass in her honor on 24 August 2011, a testament to her significant contributions to the field of mathematics and higher education in Kenya.