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Kenya: He Guards to Finance His Degree Course
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The Nation (Nairobi)
COLUMN
19 May 2008
Posted to the web 19 May 2008
Gitonga Marete
Nairobi
For self-sponsored students pursuing degree courses in public and private universities, financing their education is never an easy affair.
But for a Third Year Mombasa student, who earns about Sh10,000 per month as a security guard, the years in an institution of higher learning have been enjoyable despite his current fees arrears.
After sitting his Form Four examination in 1999 at the Suwera Secondary School in Trans Nzoia, Lawrence Mukoyani knew he would pass and proceed to university.
He went on to score a B plain average grade and was invited to Moi University for a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
But his parents did not have money to take him through university education.
"It was my dream that I undertake a degree course so when my parents could not afford it, I was devastated," he says.
Mukoyani did not, however, lose hope and when he came to Mombasa to work as a security guard, with K K Security in 2001, he started reliving his dream.
With the little money he earned, he figured, he could save for his education.
Meagre income
But he could not save much since he also supported his mother who had, after separating with his father in the early 1980s, single handedly seen him through secondary education.
This was despite her meagre income as a house mother, at the Kebos School for the blind.
Other societal needs were also pressing and in order to "announce his presence" at his rural home, bought six cows that his mother and brothers reared for him.
While he did not lose sight of his dream, life at the coastal town influenced the young man to change his dream course in favour of the hospitality industry.
And today, Mukoyani is not only on the verge of realising his dream, but has made history: He is the only student undertaking Bachelor of Tourism degree programme at the Kenyatta University, Mombasa Campus.
"I feel thrilled that I am about to realise my dream," says the 26-year-old.
However, since he enrolled for his course in 2006, he has had to make sacrifices in order to pay his fees.
At the time he joined, the cows he had bought came in handy. He sold two of them for Sh30,000. "I was required to pay about Sh40,000 so I borrowed Sh6,000 and put in some more Sh4,000 from my savings," he says.
His supervisor
Mukoyani's colleagues at work describe him as focused and determined, with Mr Chrispin Bukhala, who is his supervisor and security manager at Consolebase Limited, where he is currently stationed, describing him as an "honest, reliable, active, ambitious and hard working young man".
"He always creates a good rapport with clients and serves them well," says Mr Bukhala.
So, with a tight schedule as a security guard in which he is expected to report to work at 6am for his 12-hour shift, does he have time to study?
"Since I have to make sure I study and do all my assignments, after work, I get home as fast as possible, make my dinner and ensure I am in bed by 8pm," he says.
Climb the ladder
He then wakes up at 2am to study until 5am when he prepares to go to work.
After he completes his degree course, Mukoyani hopes to climb the ladder in the company and later take his place in the hospitality industry.
"Since I am still young, I can work at management level and switch careers after I have been satisfied that I have given the industry service."
His lecturer at the campus, Prof Edwin Wamukoya, who is also the campus director, says the young man is disciplined, plans his work well and is determined to attain his goal.
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He points out that it is particularly challenging for him because he does not have a lot of contact with his lecturer due to the nature of his job.
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