As a young girl growing up in rural Nyandarua County, Engineer Maureen Wangui understood the meaning of isolation long before she understood engineering.

Reaching her family home was often an exhausting journey that could consume an entire day. Poor roads, difficult terrain and unreliable transport turned even the simplest trips into a challenge. While many accepted the situation as part of life, Wangui saw it differently.

She saw a problem that needed solving.

Today, that desire to find solutions has propelled her to one of the most influential infrastructure positions in Kenya.

As Regional Director for the Central Region at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Wangui oversees road maintenance and development across eight counties: Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nyandarua and Laikipia.

Her journey underscores the transformative power of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in shaping lives and driving community development.

“Growing up, I always wanted to solve problems,” she says. “I realised one of the ways I could offer solutions was through engineering.”

That realisation led her to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Nairobi, a path that demanded resilience, discipline and determination.

Engineering studies required mastery of mathematics, physics and complex technical concepts, often involving long nights of study. As a woman entering a traditionally male-dominated field, the challenges were even greater.

“You have to prove yourself twice as much,” she recalls.

Yet she persevered.

“In a class of 70 engineering students, only 12 were women,” Wangui says, noting that the number was a significant improvement from previous years when female students could be counted on one hand.

The experience strengthened her resolve and reinforced her belief that women have a critical role to play in STEM professions.

Today, she is responsible for overseeing more than 30 road projects and over 35 maintenance contracts spanning thousands of kilometres of road network across Central Kenya.

Her work blends science, technology and engineering every day.

From pavement design and drainage systems to road safety planning and infrastructure maintenance, Wangui leads multidisciplinary teams of engineers, surveyors, inspectors and technical experts tasked with keeping roads safe, functional and resilient.

One of the flagship projects under her watch is the 25-kilometre Mutara-Rumuruti road in Laikipia County.

The road forms part of a strategic corridor linking Nanyuki, Doldol Turnoff, Mutara and Rumuruti. Once completed, it is expected to reduce travel times, improve access to government services and stimulate economic activity across the county.

Behind what many motorists simply refer to as “tarmac” lies a complex engineering process.

The road will feature a seven-metre carriageway, engineered drainage systems, cement-improved base and sub-base layers, and a carefully designed pavement structure built to withstand years of traffic and changing weather conditions. Every layer serves a purpose, from preventing water damage to enhancing durability and safety.

For Wangui, however, the greatest reward is not the engineering feat itself but the lives transformed by improved connectivity.

Among her proudest career achievements is her role in supervising the construction of the Dongokundu Bypass in Mombasa. The landmark project connected Mombasa Island to the South Coast, cutting travel times from up to four hours at the ferry crossing to just 15 minutes by road.

“To see a project move from drawings on paper to completion and solve a real problem was extremely fulfilling,” she says.

It is the same problem-solving spirit that continues to guide her leadership today.

As she oversees critical infrastructure development across Central Kenya, Wangui remains passionate about inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM careers.

“The world needs your ideas,” she says. “Believe in your abilities, ask questions, seek mentors and never stop solving problems.”

For the girl who once spent hours navigating poor roads to reach home, every road built today is more than infrastructure. It is proof that STEM can turn challenges into solutions and transform communities for generations.