Nairobi, Feb. 8 -- "If I got a PhD, would anyone ever marry me?" This question arose during a workshop to disseminate research findings on gender issues in the country.

It was posed by a professor at a local university who recalled that when awarded a scholarship for a PhD abroad in chemistry, she was concerned about whether she would ever get a suitor afterwards, given that subject and qualification.

Read: From barrier breakers to trailblazers: The journey of women's education in Kenya

Long story short - she went and got her PhD. And there was a man to marry her.

A similar concern was raised by a PhD student who said her male peers were clear that she was not on their marital radar, because of her educational pursuits.

They preferre...