MELISSA NKAPIANI

Melissa Nkapiani works for Kenya Electricity Generating Company, one of Kenya's major energy providers, as a Principal Geoscientist. Melissa received the 2015 KENGEN Innovation Award for her constant display of problem-solving skills. Coming from a local community where girls are adversely affected by Female Genital mutilation and early marriages, she has actively been involved in mentorship programs that mentor young girls to take up STEM courses through the KENGEN Foundation and Murua Girl Child Education program.

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

We are all shaped by different beginnings—some of us grow up in privilege, while others face abject poverty. Yet, life expects each of us to create meaning from every situation, good or bad.

My journey began in Olopito, Narok County, Kenya, a marginalised community where basic resources such as water and electricity were luxuries we could only imagine. Harmful cultural practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriages, were deeply ingrained, confining girls to the kitchen rather than giving them a place at the decision-making table. I longed for change—not only for myself but also for my community. I knew education was the key to making a difference, so I pushed myself to excel despite the challenges.

Earning a scholarship for my undergraduate studies remains one of the proudest milestones of my life. Pursuing a degree in physical sciences deepened my passion for science and research, and my strong academic performance reflected my enthusiasm. After graduation, I began my career as a geoscientist in Kenya’s leading geothermal energy company. Over the past decade, I have worked to lower exploration costs by developing data-driven conceptual models that guide strategic well placement and enhance drilling productivity. My role has also allowed me to engage with policymakers and global energy experts, expanding my perspective and fueling my drive for innovation in the energy sector.

As part of my social responsibility, I founded the Mbunga'ki initiative, which encourages young girls from rural and remote areas of Olopito, Narok County, Kenya, to enrol in STEM-related courses. This initiative aims to reach out to young girls who were subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) and dropped out of school during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative, whose name translates as ''Hold me,'' aims to connect the girls with professional mentors who will guide them on personal growth while exposing them to the tech world by introducing digital literacy and mentoring them to take STEM-related courses to enable them to change their communities.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

Kenya, as a lower-middle-income economy, continues to face significant challenges in areas such as infrastructure development, healthcare, industry-related skills, climate change adaptation, and youth employment. However, I believe that ongoing efforts and interventions are paving the way for
sustainable change and a better future for all Kenyans.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

Resilience has always been my constant companion. Growing up in a marginalised community meant limited representation, which required me to work twice as hard to be seen and heard. The lack of basic resources to meet school demands demanded sacrifice, adaptation, and creativity. Over time, I learned to embrace being different—and to accept that difference as a strength.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

To me, a mentor is like a guiding star—a confidant and a safe space where I can be vulnerable and openly share both my struggles and successes, in life and in my career. Mentorship has given me the opportunity not only to learn but also to unlearn habits and traits that no longer serve me. It has been a
transformative platform that has deepened my self-awareness and encouraged me to step beyond my comfort zone.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

One of the greatest lessons life has taught me is the power of consistency and the value of progress over perfection. Even the smallest consistent steps, though they may seem insignificant at the moment, ultimately lead to meaningful and lasting results over time.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

The Murua Girl Child Education Programme is one initiative I deeply admire, as I have witnessed firsthand how it has transformed the lives of young girls and, in turn, the lives of their communities. Through this programme, girls have built self-confidence, learned to believe in themselves, and grown into changemakers with the potential to impact the world.

Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program is making commendable progress in equipping young people with industry-relevant technical skills. These skills not only prepare them for the job market but also empower them to pursue self-entrepreneurship—an essential step
toward reducing the high rates of youth unemployment.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

One of the major challenges women face in my country is underrepresentation in decision-making, both in politics and policy formulation. While policies such as a third gender rule for women’s representation in Parliament have been introduced, and efforts are being made to create more spaces for women at decision-making tables, much still needs to be done to achieve true inclusivity.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by. 

No one has ever achieved greatness without experiencing both self-belief and self-doubt.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

If I had unlimited resources, I would dedicate them to empowering women from underserved and marginalised communities, particularly my own. Many women in my community lack hands-on or technical skills that could enable them to secure decent jobs. As a result, they are often forced to resort to activities such as charcoal burning and selling just to make ends meet. By providing them with opportunities to gain skills in areas such as craftsmanship and artisanal work, these women could earn a sustainable income in dignified and decent working environments, ultimately transforming both their lives and their communities.

Q: How is technology utilised for social impact in your country? For example are there mobile apps that support gender equality, inclusion, understanding of cultures?

Mobile apps are mostly used to collect and analyse data related to gender equality and inclusion.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?

A big thank you to the GTF mentoring programme, this journey has not only been transformative but enjoyable.