Njoki Wamai, Linda Nkatha and a colleague at the Univeristy of Cambridge

Linda Gichuyia Nkatha did a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Nairobi, where she is also a tutorial fellow, and has just begun a PhD in Architecture at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on Buildings and climate change as studies reveal that on one hand, buildings contribute significantly to the global warming process and on the other hand, climate change is also expected to impact on many aspects of building performance mainly higher building energy consumption leading to more global warming. Her research focuses on this cyclic interaction between buildings and external climate.  She says that buildings and the climate are inextricably linked and the main challenge to designers now is to develop robust alternative responses to adaptive building design in a carbon constrained climate. Linda was the valedictorian of the 44^th Graduation Ceremony held in August 2010.

Njoki Wamai did her undergraduate degree in Food Science and Technology at the University of Nairobi and won a Peace and Security Fellowship for African Women, a joint initiative of King's College London and the University of Nairobi. She is currently doing a PhD at the University of Cambridge in Politics and International Studies focusing on how the 2008 Kenya National Reconciliation process outcomes have impacted on peace building in Kenya.

Previously she has done research on increasing women’s participation in mediation processes and the African Union’s mediation capacity in Libya and Kenya.   .

Her PhD will trace the long-term impact of external mediation processes on local politics in Kenya. "The aim is to inform mediators about how to improve mediation processes while building a sustainable policy which takes women's issues on board. These issues are normally overlooked," she states.

Linda and Njoki are two of five Kenyan students who have been elected Gates Cambridge Scholars since the Scholarship was established in 2001 through the generosity of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. There are currently over 1,100 Scholars and Alumni from over 95 countries. The Scholarships emphasise not only academic brilliance but leadership capacity and commitment to change the lives of others.

Competition for the Gates Cambridge scholarship is intense. There are two admissions rounds - one for US-based scholars who must submit one application pack for  both the University of Cambridge and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship -  and the other for international students. The closing dates for applications are mid October and early December, respectively.

In the last round the 50 successful international candidates were selected from a total pool of 4,500 applicants. Departments in Cambridge rank the top students that apply to them for the Scholarships and they are then interviewed in the Spring, either in person or over Skype or the telephone.

Both Linda and Njoki say the Scholarship has not only meant they can continue their studies but has introduced them to a global network of future leaders. Njoki says: "I am constantly inspired by the Gates community of amazing change makers in diverse fields from all over the world."

The two Gates Scholars from the University of Nairobi are, however, concerned that there are  few African students who apply and they hope that in the coming years the Gates Cambridge scholarship will be as popular as other well-known scholarships in Kenya which students apply to such as the Commonwealth, Rhodes, Chevening and Ford scholarships. They encourage other University of Nairobi students who excel in their studies and have a passion for change to apply for graduate studies at the University of Cambridge and for the Gates Cambridge scholarship, which is the most prestigious scholarship in the University of Cambridge.

Linda  says: “The application process is straightforward once you access the online application on the University of Cambridge admissions website and we encourage students from our former alma mater to apply.”

Current Gates Cambridge African and Caribbean scholars and alumni are happy to advise prospective scholars on the application process in order to increase the number of applicants.

For more information, go to www.gatescambridge.org and to get in touch with Linda or

Njoki email mjg209@admin.cam.ac.uk?