Truphena Muhatia: KU’s Mathare Student Graduates After 4 Years of Commuting

It is an unspoken habit for me to scroll through social media pages before beginning my day at the office and today, 26th July 2019, I came through a post that got my attention and could change a life or two, who knows maybe even thousands.

It is a story of determination, focus, and zeal shared by Abel Muhatia on his twitter handle celebrating his small sister, Truphena Muhatia, set to graduate today at the Kenyatta University’s (K.U) 46^th Graduation.

My mum,dad never made it to the Uni.Dads demise abt 12 yrs ago was a big blow to us! Mum,our rock could hardly earn Sh300 a day! She never gave up. Today, @truphyshila , you refused to be defined by your past! and emerged among KUs finest. Congratulations! #KU46thGraduation pic.twitter.com/0bslB34ZLS

— Sir Abel 🇰🇪 (@muhatiaa) July 26, 2019

Abel’s post depicted a story of a sister who had faced it all to join KU’s 2019Graduation class that it had us reach out to him to enable us to share the story with our audience.

She commuted daily to KU from Mathare. Some days she would go without food. At some point, unlike some of her peers , she doubled up as a photographer to get that extra coin to survive. We are proud of you @truphyshila Congratulations & all graduands. #KU46thGraduation pic.twitter.com/z4zIm2arSm

— Sir Abel 🇰🇪 (@muhatiaa) July 26, 2019

A finance student at KU pursuing BSc. Commerce, Truphena’s time at the institution represents the hardship university students endure to attain their certificates.

Truphena’s Background

Truphena, born in a family of four, is the second born following after her brother Abel.

The four siblings lost their Father, the breadwinner then, 12 years ago after he succumbed to a Tuberculosis infection throwing their mother into the duty of providing for them as the sole living parent.

It was a struggle as the family that resided in the slums of Mathare could barely afford a single meal per day, leave alone the three basic meals a day. Life became most difficult with the death of Truphena’s father but the mother who for years earned a living as a hawker kept the family together.

Truphena struggled through secondary school and managed a spot at the Kenyatta University where she got an opportunity to pursue BSc. Commerce, the Finance option since as she tells us she enjoyed calculations.

“Joining Campus was fun until you realize most of the time as a full-time Student you waste a lot of hours doing nothing, I joined the campus in 2015 to do B.Com,” Trupena says.

“This was because I loved calculations and was excited about being in the university. I was still naive but campus life has a way of exposing one class only run for two to four hours a day leaving you with so much time in your hands,” Truphena informs us.

Truphena compares University life to hell for broke students who come from poor backgrounds as she had to commute from Mathare to KU to be able to attend her classes and asking for fare money was not an option in her situation then.

Truphena Runs #20bobforShila campaign to Enable Her Buy a Camera

When her financial woos bit hard, with a lot of time on her hands, Truphena, thought of seeking help to enable her to buy a camera. Truphena hoped to start a side hustle to boost her finances with.

Under the #20bobforshila Campaign, Truphena raised enough to buy a second-hand camera

“Everyone was to contribute from as little as 20 Bob. I didn’t achieve my target but I raised enough to buy a second-hand camera and that helped me to save and cater for myself in school”, Truphena popular among her friends and family as Shila says.

“I had longed to do photography out of curiosity but it ended up being a passion. So during my second year as a B.Com student, I decided to be my own boss,” Truphena says adding that she learned photography from her friends and online tutorials.

Truphena’s venture in Photography saw her survive University life.

“Surviving in Campus is not that hard, as I have come to learn, because there are so many opportunities. The secret is to learn to do small businesses, attend Societies and also make the right network among your peers,” Truphena says.

Truphena’s photography venture enabled her to attend classes as required providing for her fare from her home in Mathare to Juja as her family could not afford the hostel fees or renting her a house near the Campus.

Truphena’s Inspiration

“My mum and my family have always been my biggest pillar through her talks and advice. Her prayers kept me going all day, every day,” Truphena says adding that her mother is the hardest working mother she knows.

Every time I feel like giving up I look at her and get the Strength to fight on.

Conclusion

“Advice to all young girls out there, do not limit yourself to anything, follow your dreams, you can achieve anything as long as you have the passion,” Truphena says, “And Lastly, Let Jesus be the center of it all.”

As Truphena receives her BSc. Commerce, pride all over her families face. The teary eyes spotted by Truphena’s mother say it all, her over the 22-year journey as a hawker is paying off. Her tears remind of the next challenge ahead, that of getting a job in a country where corruption booms better than the economy.

The reality of the unemployment rate opens my mind to the filled KU graduation square and quietly I say a prayer for them all, that they are all well equipped to create the jobs.

Congratulations to Truphena Muhatia and all KU graduates of class 2019 may the brightness of your stars shine in every corner of the World.