Kenya's 'Youngest' PhD Holder Purity Ngina Ties the Knot in a ‘Simple’ Sh350, 000 Ceremony

Kenya’s ‘youngest’ PhD holder Dr. Purity Ngina has tied the knot with the love of her life, Germano Mugambi.

The two exchange vows in a colorful invite-only ceremony held at Kenyatta University on February 22nd.

Ngina says her wedding was a simple ceremony with a budget of Sh350, 000, a guest list of only 42 people, and a gown worth Sh40, 000.

The scholar, who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Bio-mathematics from Strathmore University in July 2018, says they decided to hold a 'simple' ceremony so they would not bother people with harambees.

“My partner and I did not want to bother people with harambees, neither did we want to hold a big wedding in a bid to show off. Growing up, I was taught to live according to my means. Of course, we could afford a more expensive ceremony, but again, I am fully cognizant of a future that lies ahead of us. Life doesn’t start and stop on a wedding day,” Dr. Ngina tells eDaily.

“With the budget of Ksh350, 000, Ksh123, 000 went to food, which we bought at Safari Park Hotel. That was enough to feed the 42 people, who attended our nuptials. My wedding gown cost Ksh40, 000; and I thought that that was quite much, given I am used to wearing mtumba clothes,” says Ngina.

“I did not want other people to contribute to our wedding, then once they leave the wedding venue, you’d hear some of them say: ‘Kama si sisi, huyo kijana hangepata bibi’. Above all, we are a young couple, and there is much life and responsibilities ahead of us. We could as well spend big on our wedding day, and scratch our heads in our house, thereafter, wondering where we’d get money to take care of ourselves."

Their union was officiated by three Catholic priests in a small church setting at KU while the reception was held at Safari Park Hotel.

The couple first met in 2009 while studying at Egerton University before losing touch after graduating from the institution in 2013.

Three years later, the newlyweds met in Germany, where they had both gone to study.

Ms. Ngina was on a six-month study scheme as part of her Ph.D. program while Mugambi was taking his postgraduate degree in Electrical Engineering.

“I was new in Germany [in 2016], and he was the one who showed me around, paid for my hostel and taught me how to survive in the European nation. We, thereafter, grew closer and ended up dating,” notes Ngina.

Instead of going for a honeymoon, the couple will visit Ngina’s 100-year-old grandmother in Nyeri County.

“That was the best gift we could give our elderly grandmum. She couldn’t travel to Nairobi and be faced by the buzz and stress that the city subjects one to. She was happy to eat the cake we took to her,” she says.

Mugambi, an electrical engineer, works as a lecturer at Egerton University.

Ngina’s story hit media headlines last year when she became Kenya’s 'youngest' Ph.D. holder at the age of 28.

She currently teaches Calculus to students taking Actuarial Science, Financial Engineering, and Financial Economics at Strathmore University.