Kenyan Woman Who Started School at 11 Earns PhD at 78 After Years of Struggle

Deborah Chepkisich Lotodo has achieved a lifelong academic dream after graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Catholic University of East Africa at the age of 78. Her achievement marks the end of a remarkable journey shaped by poverty, family responsibilities and years of interrupted education.

Born fourth in a family of 14 children in the Mount Elgon region, Lotodo grew up in a humble environment where she spent much of her childhood herding cattle and helping with household chores. She began formal schooling at the age of 11 after a local chief encouraged children in her community to enrol.

Despite her determination, financial difficulties prevented her from completing secondary school at Kapsabet Girls High School. She later got married and started a family, but raising children did not end her ambition to continue learning.

After the birth of her third child, Lotodo returned to education and sat her Form Four examinations. She later joined Ortum Nursing School, although she did not complete her training there. She subsequently enrolled at Mosoriot Teacher College, qualified as a teacher and taught in several schools across West Pokot.

Her contribution to education extended beyond teaching. Lotodo went on to establish a primary school in West Pokot, which grew from modest beginnings into an institution offering learning opportunities to children in the community.

She continued pursuing new skills, including earning an A+ certification in information technology. Following the death of her husband, she returned to school to study psychological counselling, progressing from a certificate to a diploma before obtaining a degree at Tangaza University College.

Lotodo later earned a master’s degree from Mount Kenya University, bringing her closer to the doctoral qualification she had long desired. She finally completed her PhD at the Catholic University of East Africa and graduated on October 23, 2026.

Her achievement demonstrates the determination she maintained despite the challenges she encountered at different stages of her life. Rather than allowing financial hardship and family obligations to end her education, she repeatedly found ways to return to the classroom.

Lotodo’s journey also offers encouragement to young people and women who may feel that their circumstances have limited their opportunities. Her experience shows that educational ambitions can remain achievable even after decades of setbacks.

At 78, her doctoral graduation stands as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of knowledge does not have to end because of age or a difficult beginning.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DhDn7tZcT/

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