Cheruiyot Kipkirui once dreamed of being a professional accountant

For many, the path to professional success is rarely straightforward, and Cheruiyot Kipkirui is no exception.

His journey did not begin in the classroom immediately after finishing his secondary school education.

However, he travelled to Nairobi hoping to continue his studies at the tertiary level, even if he had no tuition at hand.

To Kipkirui, giving up was never an option, as he was determined and sacrificed a lot for a better future

In Nairobi, he took up a job of being a security guard to make ends meet.

Working shifts were longer for him, but he remained focused and determined on his goal of gaining marketable skills.

Cheruiyot enrolled in a computer course at the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) to keep his mind active and become knowledgeable in digital work.

However, his dream remained to be an accountant, and this enabled him to begin his studies for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

In 2015, he was admitted to Strathmore University after succeeding at various interviews where he pursued a CPA.

Cheruiyot was working during night shifts and attending classes during the day, making sleep a luxury asset to him.

He walked longer distances from home to work, work to school day after day.

After some time, he was transferred to another work station, which made commuting longer and far more draining. “It became strenuous,” he recalls.

This time, his father stepped in to support him, covering rent and food so he could stay focused on his studies.

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Cheruiyot Father Sick

His father was diagnosed with cancer after one semester of help.

Classroom learning took a backseat as Cheruiyot devoted himself to caring for his father in the hospital.

Juggling responsibilities at home and school proved nearly impossible, and he was unable to sit his exams that semester.

However, he sought out a mentor who encouraged him to reach out to the Financial Aid Office where he was awarded scholarship to fund his tuition burden.

Accommodation remained a major hurdle, as he continued to juggle long commutes and instability while pursuing his academic dream.

His cousin decided to host him, but unfortunately, he was transferred to Murang’a for work.

However, he found another security job in Westlands, even though the pay was inconsistent and unreliable.

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How Well-wishers Stepped In

Friends and well-wishers stepped in to organize a fundraiser to support his home, and he was able to return to Nairobi and continue his studies.

By that time, he had reached Section 5 of his CPA. This time, he gave it everything he had. He did his classes diligently, sat his exams, and passed.

He got another job to get money to fund an internet connection that was required when he was doing his last section, Business Data Analytics, a practical paper done fully online.

He returned to the Financial Aid Office and explained his struggles, and this time they requested his CB, and he was offered a Student Assistant position within the University.

He graduated from Strathmore University, emerging victorious in October 2025.

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Structure of Strathmore University for illustration purposes. PHOTO/NA