When you hear Dr. Esther Dindi talk about the work she does, the excitement oozes out of her with such ease you’d want to spend a day in her shoes. Her story begins in Machakos. Having enrolled at Mumbuni Primary School, she was determined to work hard, to be a high achiever, and with her father’s support, her journey upward was a steady progression. Around that time, her mother was diagnosed with asthma and as a first born of five children much responsibility was handed to her. The hospital runs, however, amazed young Esther who began to see hospitals, and the doctors within as the sources of guidance to better health. As she took note of this, she promised herself that her one of her highest achievements would be becoming a doctor.
In this pursuit, Esther’s first milestone was walking through the gates of Moi University in 1999. She was among the students selected to study medicine and she would be majoring in a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery. Here, despite the intensity of school, she met a fellow med student that she would later marry. In December 2005, Esther marked another milestone; she graduated. Two weeks later, she was walking down the aisle towards her campus sweetheart. The next year was all about diving in the deep end. Esther began her internship at the Kenya Defense Forces Memorial Hospital and it was here that her career truly began as she gathered first-hand experience of a doctor’s work-life. A year later, internship over, she got a job with the ministry and was posted in Nyeri as a medical officer. While in Nyeri, Esther gave birth to twins. The transformation pregnancy had on her body was more than she anticipated but Esther, still full of determination, was keen on getting back into shape. The process required research, a change in diet and physical activity. It goes without saying, that she pulled through, and this physical transformation sparked a new desire: to incorporate wellness into her practice.
At work, her day to day was filled with new and familiar faces. Esther met a number of patients who were facing the aftermath of poor lifestyle choices. From diabetes to obesity, all issues invited her interrogation on the patients’ diets and their engagement in physical activity. When she wasn’t asking tough questions, she was researching on diet, nutrition and the impact of healthier lifestyles – something that had only been brushed over when she was in med school.
In 2010, she returned to Nairobi and joined the University of Nairobi’s School of Medicine for her masters. 3 years later she graduated and began working as a consultant physician. All the while, Dr. Esther was still interested in fitness and wellness, even after she had her third child. The question that came to mind was, “What if I branch off and give this desire special attention?” The answer initiated the establishment of Doctor Fitness Kenya, a wellness company dedicated to helping people fight lifestyle diseases and seeing clients through their physical transformation journey.
Since its inception, Doctor Fitness has guided thousands of people towards a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Dindi has created an online platform with resources and blog posts that encourage and inspire. While she is now working in Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, daktari is still accessible via the online platform where she Coaches people with her pragmatic style.
We salute her for her hard work and determination to make us healthier, strong and enjoy engaging in physical activities.