Publications & Works of Diana Kimani
Dr. Diana Kimani leads WCIU’s M.A. in Development Studies program and brings more than two decades of global experience in economics and development research. Her work focuses on poverty reduction, health systems, and women’s empowerment in Africa. Through her teaching, writing, and leadership, she equips students to apply sound economic analysis to real-world transformation.
Economics, Development, Empowerment
Economics for Change
Diana Kimani directs WCIU’s M.A. in Development Studies. Her research centers on poverty, women’s empowerment, and health economics across Africa and the global south.
Over 20 years of professional experience in economics and development
Founder of Praying Mums, a global prayer movement for mothers
Board member at New Covenant Missions
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Determinants and Distribution of Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Impoverishment in Kenya
Published in Public Health Research (Vol. 7, No. 3), this study shows how out-of-pocket care pushes households into poverty, identifying drivers and county gaps to guide fairer health financing.
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Social Capital and Women’s Empowerment
Published in Forum for Social Economics (Vol. 53, Issue 3), this study analyzes how social networks and participation influence women’s empowerment and economic decision-making in Kenya.
Women’s Empowerment
From Lived Poverty to Lifting Others
Drawing on her own childhood in poverty and the women who helped her reach university, Dr. Kimani now walks alongside women in Kenya’s slums—supporting savings groups, small businesses, and education so that one household, one act of kindness at a time, futures change. Watch the conversation to hear her heart firsthand.
Peer-Reviewed Research
Health Access and Economic Impact in Kenya
Published in the European Scientific Journal (Vol. 12, Issues 15 and 16), Dr. Kimani’s research explores how out-of-pocket costs, income, and distance influence health-care use in Kenya—revealing economic barriers that deepen inequality and poverty.
Graduate Program
Preparing Leaders for Just Development
The M.A. in Development Studies equips students to understand the forces that shape poverty, health, and economic opportunity around the world. Blending research, ethics, and community-based practice, the program trains leaders to design solutions that respect culture, strengthen households, and promote long-term sustainability.
Learn More from Our Faculty
Browse collections of works from each of our scholar-practitioners. Their research spans faith, community transformation, and global development.