Betty Gikonyo

Betty Mūthoni Gìkonyo (born 27 May 1950) is a Kenyan medical entrepreneur, pediatric cardiologist and one of the country's best known healthcare professionals. She has been featured on CNN's African Voices

Gìkonyo is a co-founder and the chairperson of the Karen Hospital Board of Directors. From 2006 until 2020, she served as Chief Executive Officer at the Karen Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

Early life and education Gìkonyo was born on 27 May 1950 in the village of Kìamabara, near the town of Karatina, in Nyeri County. She came from a poor family and wore her first shoes at the age of 13.

She attended Alliance Girls High School. Her first job was at the Kenya Railways and Harbors, before she joined the university. She earned KSh. per month, which was a sizable amount for her, considering that her school pocket money was . However, her biggest inspiration to pursue a medical career came from her elder brother, Dr Wallace Kahūgū, because her mother spoke highly of him.

Personal life She is married to Daniel Gìkonyo, a cardiologist, Karen Hospital co-founder

They met at the University of Nairobi during her second year and were married in June 1974. She is a mother of three grownup children (a cardiologist, an epidemiologist and a poet). Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) Presidential Award in 2008 CEO Global Limited East Africa Regional Awards: Most influential Woman (Medical category)

Membership Kenya Medical Association Kenya Cardiac Society Kenya Pediatric Association Kenya Medical Women Association. Chairperson of Nairobi Health Management Board Chair of the University of Nairobi Alumni Association