They are all around us – buildings that is. That place we rest each evening, or slog away at each day, estates, gleaming towers or townhouses. Yet there is still mystery about architecture as a profession in Kenya where most architects get into the profession ‘by mistake’. The profession seems to be a fallback for high school graduates who have passed well in their exams but for some reason were not admitted into medicine or law, and with a background in art architecture seems like a convenient compromise. Amongst the dreamers and drawers we find Emma Miloyo.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Emma is an urban kid to the core. Being an only child of a mathematics lecturer evoked in her a desire to teach but then there was always that creative streak. When she completed her secondary education at Kenya High School, Emma followed her desire to use her creative gifts and enrolled at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology for an architecture degree. During her time on campus she volunteered at a local primary school but soon discovered that her choice of course was not going to be a walk in the park as demanding design projects have expected deadlines. The training was intense and in 2006, the late nights paid off and Emma graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Architecture. Eager to start contributing to her home city’s skyline she started her own architectural and interior design firm – Design Source. Success did not come overnight for Emma, but her ideas to modernize Africa’s cityscapes pushed her to bid for urban development projects across Africa which in turn built her reputation as an architect.
In 2007, Emma joined the Architectural Association of Kenya, Kenya’s leading association for professionals in the built and natural environment. Within the seven chapters of the AAK, Emma began another facet of her leadership journey. Her first pursuit was to be vice chair of the architectural chapter and then in 2015 self-driven Emma campaigned for and won the position of overall vice-president of AAK.
With a continued desire to impact change on the building environment in Kenya, Emma Miloyo vied for and became the first female President of the Architectural Association of Kenya in 2017. Still inspired by teaching she has contributed to the creation of ‘arkidtecture’ – a children’s programme to nurture art in children.
Emma’s leadership path changed the norm in the AAK and more women have joined the AAK executive council – a source of encouragement for Emma who strongly believes in the power of women as leaders.
While her passion for teaching led her to set up Kiota School, a kindergarten in Nairobi, Emma actively seeks to connect young women into the profession through various networks such as Women in Real Estate and the Ex-Bomarian Educational Trust Fund, a platform of Kenya High alumni.
Energetic Emma Miloyo slays all around! We celebrate how she has balanced her love of teaching and creative pursuits and shown that when we love what we do our ingenuity allows us to bring it all together!