The Veterinary Surgeon

Veterinary sciences had been one of the earliest programmes at the University of East Africa but it was only offered up to diploma level. In 1962, a degree programme was finally introduced allowing graduates to become Veterinary Officers, and Rachael Masake enrolled for a veterinary sciences degree. The political tensions of the East African Community led to the dissolution of the University of East Africa in 1970 and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine became part of the newly established University of Nairobi. In the class of 25 aspiring vets Rachael stood out as the only Kenyan woman where she was constantly referred to by fellow classmates as Mr Masake, a recurring reminder that she was trespassing on men’s territory. She didn’t let the taunts get to her and in 1970 graduated as Kenya’s first female veterinary officer.

The pursuit of knowledge did not end there and Rachael went on to pursue her master’s and then PhD at Washington State University in the US. On return to Kenya her passion for science and animal health led her to a position as an immunologist with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) where she rose through the ranks to become a senior staffer in the Biosciences program. Rachael has been a keen advocate of academic excellence throughout her life. As a member of the Board of the Maseno University College Council and Vice Chair of the Board Committee constituted in 1993 to advocate for full university status, she played a pivotal role in drafting the bill presented to parliament in March 1999 to move the institution from a college of Moi University to a fully independent university. The process took more than six years but the tenacity of the Committee led to success in 2000 when the university was awarded its full charter.

A staunch Christian, she has continued to promote the wellbeing of livestock and families that depend on them for their livelihoods through leadership positions with the Christian Organisations Research and Advisory Trust (CORAT) and World Vision International where she represented Africa at the Board level until 2016. Now in her seventies her board work is complemented by her continued service at grassroots level working with pastoralist and other communities to build healthy herds.

We applaud our first female veterinarian Dr Rachael Masake for tenacity in pursuit of animal health which ultimately leads to family wealth!