Climate Change: Kenya’s Daughter Set to Secure First PhD on Decabornization at Oxford University, UK

BY JOSEPH KANGOGO

Engineer Dorcas Jelagat Tuitoek, 27 hails from remotest Borutwo village in Kalabata, Baringo North located in Kenya's Rift Valley.

Jelagat completed her form four studies at Kenya High school in 2014 and joined Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in Nairobi Kenyan Capital City where she graduated with first class honors degree in Chemical Engineering. 

She later applied for Rhodes Scholarship 2023 where only two students were picked from Kenya.

The brilliant Kenya's daughter is currently pursuing her PhD on decarbonization at the World prestigous Oxford University based in United Kingdom (UK), with highest hope of acquiring knowledge helpful in tackling world's adverse effects of Climate Change. 

"Disturbing effects of climate change were suffocating our rural villages back in Kenya, Africa and globally" she says.

Technical University of Kenya where Eng. Dorcas Jelagat completed her degree in Chemical Engineering

Decarbonization is a technological process of reducing the net output of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the Earth's atmosphere. 

She noted dreadful effects of global warming currently bedeviling the universe, especially Africans' rural villages.

However at Oxford University, she hopes to study systems engineering and do re-search on decarbonization solution-based technologies hoping to help find possible ways to mitigate the perennial challenge.

"I will join efforts with my colleagues here at Oxford University to find formidable solutions to the global warming" she said.

She left her country Kenya on September 19th 2023 for her four-year studies in UK, saying she left her village age-mates, relatives and neighbours back in Kenya grappling with mixed challenges ranging from harsh drought, famine and immense water scarcity owing to effects of Climate Change.

"Residents from my village are forced to trek at least 7kilomtres to fetch water for both domestic use and quenching their thirsty animals" Jelagat said. 

She said the worsening situation is orchestrated by drying up of seasonal rivers their ancestors use to fetch water from while they were still alive several decades ago.

Dorcas Jelagat interacting with her grand parents in their Bartabwa remote village home in Baringo, Kenya before leaving for UK

"People especially women and young girls were now forced to stay overnight competing with wild animals such as poisonous snakes and scorpions to fetch the rare commodity-water in deep-dug muddy wells along seasonal sand streams" she said. 

Jelagat futher says global warming has indiscriminately the world with African continent bearing the brunt of suffering the most owing to shortage of sophisticated technological and skills to help tackle it.

She is among few University graduates from her village where effects of Gender Based Violence (GBV) limits most young people, especially girls from pursuing their dream careers, "majority do not believe in themselves" she said.

Apart from climate change Jelagat's Bartabwa village located in Baringo, Kenya also harbors retrogressive cultures such as Banditry, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Early Mariages.

"This trend according to the traditions was to allow poor, uneducated parents marry off their teenage girls to acquirecheap wealth through dowry in form of animals like goats, cows and camels from the parents or relatives of potential suitors" she said.

Jelagat said like her age mates she could have succumbed to these backward GBVs, "but I I thank God none derailed my ambition to fly and become a global engineer," she said.

She also recalls days back her village, insecurity occassioned by banditry and cattle rustling use to be the norm, adding; "hardly a day passes without a gunshot aimed at a neighbor, killed, injured or livestock stolen" she said.

"Whenever I go and I tell someone I come from Baringo, he or she would ask quickly are you safe? she said.

Furthermore, she says education remains reserve for the rich as poor teenage girls and boys from rural parts of Kenya, especially from the pastoral communities got disadvantaged and end up becoming helpless in the villages.

"Knowing exactly where I come from, I had to work extra hard through education to change the narrative and later be able to provide solutions to the major challenges facing our people" Jelagat said.

Mentorship

However, Jelagat attributes her academic achievements to her able father Dr. Joseph Rotumoi and mother Magdalene. 

"As her parents we are happy for her. Since she grew up she was always disciplined, hardworking and determined" Rotumoi said.

He wished her well in her studies abroad saying God willing after her studies she will come and deliver her wishes to her community and beyond.

"We are longing for her graduation after the long journey of studies abroad" he said.

On her side, Elimu Kwanza Initiative-Kenya CBO Founder Dorothy Jebet termed success of Jelagat a plus for the Kenyan girl child.

Dorcas posing for a photo outside her mud-walled grand parents house in Bartabwa, Kenya before her departure to UK where she is currently pursuing her PhD on decarbonization.

"She is going to represent girls from Baringo and Kenya grappling with so many challenges of Poverty, FGM and Early marriages" she said. 

Jebet further said her story should encourage other girls from African communities to pursue their studies knowing really they can make it.

"It doesn't matter the gender or where one comes from but dreaming big and working towards achieving it always matter"Jebet said.

Jelagat‘s story comes days after Africa Climate Summit was held in Nairobi-Kenya with critical declarations made to push for climate action.

The declaration was the basis for Africa‘s common position in COP 28 and beyond.

African leaders, however called for urgent action by developed countries to reduce emission of carbon dioxide through pollution caused by huge industries. 

They called for investment to promote sustainable use of Africa‘s natural assets for the continent‘s transition to low carbon development and contribution to global decarbonization.