Anastacia Kyalo, Alumni

Against All Odds: My Journey to a Master’s Degree in Less Than Two Years.

My Master’s journey is one I carry in my heart, with tears, strength, and grace. I come from a background where education is a dream too far for many. Yet, with nothing but faith and a burning desire to change my life and uplift my family, I enrolled for an MSc in Agricultural Extension. I had no fees, only courage. During my undergraduate studies, I was blessed by the kindness of Ms. Mary Ikonya, who saw something in me and supported me to the finish line. Her belief gave me the strength to walk boldly into my Master’s journey, even when I had no certainty of how I would survive it. In the early days, I carried fee balances and heavy worry, unsure if I would be allowed to continue. But Prof. Daniel Mugendi, our Vice Chancellor, extended a rare and priceless act of compassion, he allowed me to continue, to hope, to hold on, by allowing me to sit for exams and submit my thesis with huge fee balances. Special gratitude to Dr. Hezron Mogaka who helped me secure full sponsorship through the Bio Kenya Project, funded by the French Government. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I could focus, study, and dream again. Still, it wasn’t easy. Behind every success were sleepless nights, mental battles, silent tears, and quiet prayers. But I endured. Today, I stand proud, coursework done, thesis submitted, all within two years. To every struggling student: don’t give up. Your struggle is very meaningful. Your pain will shape your purpose. Keep going, your story truly matters.