About Kibao
Kibao is Swahili slang for "a lot". In pure Kiswahili, it means a board used for notices and signs. I post my thoughts on lots of topics here, mostly related to energy, climate, tech, and the African continent.
I write from a unique vantage point – African, scientist, policy wonk, feminist, one-time standup comedian, and a product of the liberal arts – from which I draw on to inject fresh and missing perspectives on a wide range of issues.
I’m also here to learn from you. I’d love to hear your thoughts and reactions to my ideas and musings – please post comments and I’ll be sure to respond.
About Me
I grew up in 1980s and 1990s Nairobi, and came of age at a time of significant political, economic, cultural and social transformation in Kenya. We lived in a housing estate for University of Nairobi professors and their families, among the fading embers of that great and ill-used generation of post-independence African scholars and thinkers. This had a great impact on my worldview, and I was drawn to the world of ideas from a very young age. My personal mission is to do my bit to advance this tradition of pragmatic and accessible African intellectualism that is deeply rooted in both the everyday concerns of African people and bold vision-setting for the future.
In my day job, I am the Founder and Executive Director of the African Tech Futures Lab (ATFL), a new African-led institute that explores how Africa shapes and is shaped by emerging science and technology, with a focus on energy, climate, and AI/digital tech. Previously, I was the Research Director for the Energy for Growth Hub, using data and evidence to help build energy systems that can create economic opportunities and improve lives in energy-poor countries. I started my career in the lab, researching advanced materials for next-generation energy tech and electronics. I went on to cut my teeth in energy and innovation policy during a stint in the US Senate, where I had the great privilege to co-author several pieces of legislation that were eventually signed into law, and learned the incredible value to society of politically-savvy scientists. I’ve also worked at the US Department of Energy, and collaborated closely with colleagues from many of the major development agencies and think tanks over the years. My TED talks on the future of African energy have been viewed over 3.5 million times, and I regularly contribute to a wide range of global outlets including the BBC, Science Magazine, Nature, Scientific American, Guardian, CNN, Quartz, Scientific American, and the World Economic Forum.
On a somewhat parallel track, I co-founded and used to run the Mawazo (“Ideas”) Institute, a thriving Nairobi-based non-profit that provides doctoral research funding and professional development support to early-career female scholars and thought leaders across Africa. Building up the next generation of young African thinkers is one of my personal vocations.
I have a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on nanotechnology and polymer physics. My identity as a multi-faceted and interdisciplinary thinker was forged during my undergrad years immersed in the liberal arts at Dartmouth College, and I continue to delight in confusing STEM purists with my “Bachelor of Arts” degree in engineering.
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