Elizabeth Marami, popularly known as Liz Marami, turned down a scholarship to study law because she wanted to do something out of the ordinary. She is doing just that as East Africa’s first female marine pilot.

She successfully completed a course in Nautical Technology in Egypt, the only female student enrolled in this course the year she joined the college.

Based at the Kenya Ports Authority, Marami chairs the mentorship committee of the Women in Maritime in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA).

In 2015, she was named among the top 40 under 40 women in Kenya by Business Daily, a celebration of women under the age of 40 who are great achievers in their various career fields

Marami has started an initiative called ‘Against the Tide’ to fight for gender equality in maritime careers. The idea for the initiative stemmed from her experience when she was looking for work. Unlike her male counterparts who quickly secured jobs, she was frequently turned down because maritime organisations tend to shy away from hiring women to guard against possible sexual harassment lawsuits.

In addition to being a marine pilot and a mentor, Marami loves fashion. She writes in her blog that her interest in fashion began as a girl when she would see smartly dressed working women. She looked forward to the time when she would be earning her own salary to dress up. Ironically, when she finally got a job, it required her to be in uniform. She thus uses her blog to express her more creative and fashionable side.

Marami is also the ‘Stand up Campaign’ ambassador for Always sanitary towels alongside Kenya’s basketball captain Silalei Owuor in the ‘keeping girls in school’ campaign.