“If I was bold in my 20s the way I am in my 30s, I would probably be in a position to be the Health Cabinet Secretary of Kenya.”

Judith Oketch is leading the charge in a space often dominated by men - healthtech - and she is doing it unapologetically. As the CEO and Founder of Ambulex Solutions Limited, Judith is driven by a simple but urgent mission: ensuring that every Kenyan can access affordable and timely emergency medical services.

From the Slums of Nairobi to Building Solutions for Kenya’s Health System

Judith’s leadership journey did not begin in boardrooms or startup accelerators. It began with service.

“I started my career as a volunteer for an NGO in Nairobi. I am very grateful that a few people,Jerry Aurah and Philip Waweru,saw my potential and believed in my creativity and innovativeness, and gave me an opportunity to thrive as a young person in their organization.”

Over the years, she worked across several NGOs before stepping into the world of social enterprises. For Judith, the shift felt natural.

She was drawn to the start-up space because she saw it as a sustainable alternative to solving social problems.

Her story is also deeply shaped by where she comes from,describing her childhood experiences, family and education, as the makings of her leadership journey.

“I grew up in Kenya’s largest slum. I was not the brightest kid in class but I could write very good compositions. I knew that I would one day amount to something; I just did not know what. To be honest, I am still excited about the ‘unknown something’.”

That sentence alone tells you everything about how she moves through the world, with curiosity, not anxiety. 

“I am extremely passionate about what I do and how I do it. I think I make a difference in people’s lives, however small, through Ambulex.” 

The Leadership Habit That Changed Everything

For Judith, leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about listening.

“I consult, a LOT! Everyone in my team gets to give me their thoughts on our strategies because I have learned that I do not know everything and I should trust the very people I work with to know what they are doing.”

This simple but powerful habit has shaped the way she leads, creating space for collaboration, trust, and collective problem-solving.

Navigating Bias as a Woman Founder

For all her warmth, Judith is unflinching when the conversation turns to what it costs to be a woman building in Africa's health-tech space. Like many women founders, Judith’s path has not been without barriers, especially when it comes to fundraising and securing corporate partnerships. 

“Much as it is a cliché to speak to it, some men in powerful positions still expect bedroom favors before they can give you [a woman] an opportunity.”

But Judith has chosen a different path. She understands greatly the value she offers as an innovator in the health-tech space, and she knows that the universe aligns to drive us to our goals. “I focus more on people and institutions who believe in me as a leader, and that is how I overcome gender biases,”she added.

A Lesson in Confidence

When Judith reflects on her younger self, one lesson stands out above all: Confidence.

“I wish I were half as confident as I am now, with myself. Retrospectively, I see that this kind of confidence is built over years and experiences.”

Looking back, she often wonders how far that confidence could have taken her earlier in life.

“But if I was as bold in my 20s  as I have been in my 30s, I would probably be the CS Health now, and championing better healthcare provision and access for Kenyans.”

Living the Philosophy of “Give to Gain”

This year's International Women's Day theme landed differently for Judith. Not as a slogan, but as a mirror.

“Give to Gain. This has always been my life philosophy. People who know me well will tell you that I preach this a lot. It is interesting that it is this year’s theme.”

Her experience in leadership has reinforced that belief time and again.

“What I have experienced in leadership is that you get twice, if not more, as much as you give. Whether it is respect, compassion, opportunities, feedback or ideas.”

Generosity, for Judith Oketch, is not an afterthought. It is the architecture.

As she continues building Ambulex, pushing for the day when no Kenyan dies waiting for an ambulance that never came, that architecture holds.

🔗Connect with the author, Beryl Oywer🔗