Purity Nkatha, a 32-year-old mother from Nyeri County, has graduated as a registered nurse from Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) after overcoming systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and major financial hardship.
Nkatha was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease in January 2021. The condition caused severe pain, fatigue and repeated flare-ups that threatened both her health and her studies.
She had already delayed her secondary education and sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) years after her peers. To attend KMTC, she left her young daughter in the care of family members.
In early 2025, as she prepared for the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) licensing examination, her symptoms worsened. Her outpatient medical insurance had expired and she could no longer afford essential medication, supplements or the specialised diet required to manage lupus.
With the exam date approaching and her condition deteriorating, Nkatha made a public appeal for assistance. Kenyans responded generously, including a KSh 30,000 donation from the Miriti Trust that enabled her to obtain treatment.
In July 2025 she sat and passed the NCK licensing examination. She has now completed her graduation from KMTC Nyeri Campus and is a fully registered nurse in Kenya.
Speaking after the ceremony, Nkatha said the achievement belonged to everyone who supported her when she could no longer continue alone. She plans to use her experience to advocate for patients living with autoimmune diseases.
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