For the past 10 years, Duncan Kibet, a hawker based in Bomet, has been trying to secure admission to university, earn a degree, and improve the future of his young family.

However, lack of fees has consistently stood in the way of the 27-year-old’s dream of pursuing higher education. Coming from a humble background, Kibet attended Kipkoligo Primary School before joining Tenwek Boys’ High School in Bomet County, where he attained a C+ in the 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. Despite the grade, he was unable to proceed to university due to financial constraints.

Duncan Kibet, a Bomet-based hawker with a tea urn as he solicited for customers on April 18, 2026. He has been offered a place at Mount Kenya University, 10 years after he sat his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Tenwek Boys' High School. He recently walked to Nairobi, some 235 kms to raise fees.

Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group

Missing the university cut-off mark for regular government-sponsored programmes meant he had to seek admission under a self-sponsored arrangement—an option that has remained out of reach for nearly a decade.

Recently, the father of one walked approximately 250 kilometres from Kipkoligo village, Chemaner Ward in Bomet County, to Nairobi in a desperate attempt to raise school fees. However, he says the effort did not yield much.

“On January 28, 2026, I trekked to Nairobi to raise fees after staying at home for 10 years, during which I did manual jobs. It took me four days to reach Nairobi, where I was hosted by friends,” he said.

He spent his journey sleeping in different places along the way, first at a relative’s home in Narok town, then in Ntulele, Mai Mahiu and later at a well-wisher’s home in Nairobi.

For three weeks in the city, Kibet appealed to well-wishers for support before returning to his rural home in Bomet without securing sufficient funding.

“I have not made a breakthrough yet in my mission to raise fees. I am appealing to well-wishers to come to my rescue,” he said.

However, his story attracted public attention and eventually led to a breakthrough. He has since been offered admission at Mount Kenya University to study English Literature.

A view of the Mt Kenya University campus.

Photo credit: File

His Member of Parliament, Richard Yegon (Bomet East), reportedly paid Sh71,000 to the university to cater for one semester, including Sh6,000 for accommodation.

Kibet is expected to report to the university on April 27, 2026, with registration deadline set for April 30.

According to an admission letter signed by Dr Ronald Maathai, Registrar of Academic Affairs, dated February 2, 2026, the tuition fee is Sh52,000 per semester, with additional statutory fees of Sh12,000 per year and a Sh1,000 quality assurance fee.

He will be joining the School of Education under the Department of Education Management and Curriculum Studies at the university’s main campus in Thika.

Several leaders have pledged to support his education after his story emerged, although some of the promises are yet to be fulfilled.

“There is a misconception that I was given a full scholarship by the university. The truth is that I only received admission, as indicated in my offer letter,” Kibet clarified.

He continues to rely on hawking coffee in Bomet, particularly at night when demand is higher, although he says business has declined in recent months.

“I want to complete my education, secure employment, and be able to educate my children in the future without depending on well-wishers or uncertain scholarships,” he said.

Kibet expressed hope that the pledges made to him will be honoured so he can complete his studies without interruption.

“However long it takes, I am determined to finish my university education and make a meaningful contribution to the country’s socio-economic development,” he added.

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