JKUAT Student Featured In Forbes Africa’s Top 30 Under 30 List.
Dr. Joan Ruguru Kimani, a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology student, recently made headlines when she was named to Forbes Africa’s list of the top 30 under 30 Africans, along with three other Kenyans.
For the eighth year in a row, the list highlights Africans under the age of 30 who are contributing to the continent’s growth.
The only Kenyans on the list this year were Ruguru, comedian Elsa Majimbo, e-gamer Sylvia Gathoni, and Mukuru Clean Stoves founder Charlot Magayi.
The doctor, who will receive her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from JKUAT on June 28, has been recognized for her outstanding work in child health and parenting.
Kimani’s main goal with her company, ‘Exciting Parenting,’ is to put a positive spin on parenting and educate parents about their children’s health.
She started the business with Ksh.3,000, which she used for name search and domain registration.
“I saw this as an opportunity to offer professional information in regards to parenting and child health. Other topics such as marriage and real estate have information sources from people who have dedicated their whole lives to doing this kind of work. I realized the field of parenting was pretty scarce.”
Ruguru, a Maryhill Girls alumna, spoke about her achievement, noting that it serves as an example to young people that their passions and hobbies can be turned into lucrative careers.
“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. I have been blogging for 7 years and growing my audiences and numbers,” she said.
The doctor believes that her writing is what endeared her to the panel of Forbes Africa editors who sifted through thousands of nominations to research, verify, and vet all candidates.
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Some of Dr. Ruguru’s parenting works have been published in a variety of mainstream media platforms, but she plans to improve her writing skills in the future so that she can effectively use the digital space to raise more awareness about the benefits of good parenting.
Dr. Ruguru will also represent Kiambu County in the upcoming “Ms. President Academy and Competition” sponsored by the European Union and the United Nations.
In 2020, she was named one of the “Top 35 Under 35 Youth of the Year” in the Health Services category for her outstanding youth engagement achievements, particularly her exquisite exposition of child health and parenting issues.
The annual competition seeks participants under the age of 35 with innovative ideas in youth leadership, governance, economic empowerment, and gender development.
