Former Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu has been awarded the Graduate School Humanitarian Award by the Pennsylvania State Graduate School.
The award honours Penn State graduates who have achieved extraordinary success in their chosen field within the first ten years after graduating with a master's degree.
According to Pennsylvania State Graduate School, success can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, such as demonstrated leadership or significant contributions.
Wakhungu earned a doctorate in energy resources management from Pennsylvania State University in 1993.
The former CS is best remembered for being the driving force for the first nationwide ban on single-use polythene plastic bags, when she held the environment docket.
Wakhungu began her career as a science, technology, and society associate professor. She was the founding director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) institute.
“It is fitting she led an institute focused on trailblazing women, as she is a woman of firsts,” read a statement by Pennsylvania State.
Upon Wakhungu’s return to Kenya, she served as the country’s cabinet secretary for Environment and Natural Resources.
In that role, she was responsible for ensuring good governance in the protection, conversation, governance, restoration and management of the environment and natural resources.
She was the Executive Director/Professor of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Nairobi from 2002 to 2013, prior to her appointment as Cabinet Secretary. ACTS is an international intergovernmental organization (IGO) that creates and disseminates new information through policy analysis, capacity building, and outreach.
Wakhungu also made headlines in 2016 when she championed the burning of Kenya’s entire stockpile of ivory and rhino hones.
In 2018, President Uhuru Kenyattta appointed her as Kenya's Ambassador to France, Portugal, Monaco and Serbia and the Holy See.
