A Kenyan professor has become the latest recipient of a prestigious award in the United Kingdom.
Professor Robert Mokaya received the second-highest ranking Order of the British Empire award (OBE) recognising his outstanding service and career in the UK and the entire teaching profession.
Being the only black professor of Chemistry in the UK, he has built an extensive 16-year career at the University of Nottingham and is now professor of Materials Chemistry and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement.
Mokaya who graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1988 after which he spent a year working for Unilever in Kenya. Other than receiving an OBE, he is currently a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award holder.
Mokaya, while accepting the award, appreciated his family noting that they have been instrumental in all his achievements.
"This is an unexpected honour. I am however very pleased that the work that I and many colleagues, including my students past and present, have done over the years has been recognised in this manner. I recognise that this honour would not have been possible without the support of my wife, Edna, and my family to whom I am particularly thankful," Mokaya stated.
Mokaya who is the founding member of the Royal Society Wolfson Pan Africa Chemistry Network, has been instrumental in pushing for other African nations to have access to chemical knowledge
His work has been at the focal point of developing affordable energy solutions, strengthening and building capacity through Capacity Building in Energy Storage Materials programme.
The academician pieces of research have been used to provide bio-rural energy in Ghana and GCRF-funded safe and affordable low energy cooking solutions for South Africa and Namibia.
Kenya's High Commission to UK Manoah Esipisu shared the news of Mokaya's milestone, congratulating him for putting the country on the global map.
"Congratulations to Professor Robert Mokaya who has been awarded an OBE in the UK New Year Honours for services to the chemical sciences," Esipisu stated.
His achievement highlights the strides Kenyans are making abroad in different professional fields and spheres of life.
