Faith's journey from a rural village to university graduation
In the remote village of Dadaab, Garissa County, Faith Wanjiku made history by becoming the first girl to ever graduate from university. Her journey challenges generations of cultural norms and opens doors for countless other young women.
Faith was born in 1999 in Dadaab, a village where the nearest secondary school was 50 kilometers away and university seemed like a foreign concept. Her community, primarily pastoralist, followed traditional patterns where girls were married off young to secure family alliances and economic stability.
"In our family, I was the fourth of seven children and the only girl," Faith explains. "My brothers were automatically expected to continue their education, but for me, the expectation was different. I was being prepared to be someone's wife."
Faith's mother, Halima Wanjiku, had been married at 16 and never learned to read or write. "I didn't want the same life for Faith, but I didn't know there were other options," Halima admits. "In our community, educated girls were seen as unmarriageable."
From an early age, Faith showed exceptional academic ability. Her primary school teacher, Mr. Ahmed Hassan, noticed her potential when she consistently scored at the top of her class despite limited resources.
"Faith was different," Mr. Hassan recalls. "While other children played during breaks, she would ask me to teach her more. She had an insatiable hunger for knowledge that I had rarely seen."
Faith taught herself to read using old newspapers and her brothers' discarded textbooks. "I would wake up at 4 AM to study by kerosene lamp while everyone was sleeping," she remembers. "Education felt like a secret treasure that I was discovering piece by piece."
Growing up in a traditional pastoral community, Faith faced immense pressure to abandon her education and marry young. "In our community, a girl's value was measured by how many cows she could bring as dowry," Faith explains.
When Faith was 13, her parents received the first marriage proposal for her. "A family with many cattle wanted me to marry their 35-year-old son," Faith recalls. "My father was tempted because they offered 50 cows, which was a fortune for our family."
"I was told that education would make me 'too proud' to be a good wife. But I knew education was my ticket to a different future."
Despite facing constant discouragement, Faith excelled in her primary education, scoring 420 out of 500 marks in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams – among the top students in her district. This caught the attention of Msichana Initiative scouts who were looking for promising girls to support.
Faith's high KCPE score earned her admission to a prestigious secondary school in Garissa town, but her family couldn't afford the fees. "That's when the Msichana Initiative stepped in like angels," Faith says. "They didn't just pay my fees; they believed in my potential."
Attending secondary school meant leaving her village for the first time. "I had never been more than 10 kilometers from home," Faith remembers. "The first time I saw a car up close was when the Msichana van came to pick me up for school."
At school, Faith faced cultural shock. She struggled with English, having primarily spoken Somali and Swahili at home. Her classmates from urban backgrounds often looked down on her rural origins.
"The first term was the hardest," Faith admits. "I felt like I didn't belong. Some girls laughed at my accent and my simple clothes. But my mentor from Msichana, Sister Margaret, taught me that my differences were strengths, not weaknesses."
Faith's determination paid off. By her second year, she was among the top five students in her class. She particularly excelled in Mathematics, English, and History. Her teachers were amazed by her progress.
"Faith transformed herself completely," says Mrs. Khadija Mohamed, her Form Three teacher. "She went from a shy village girl who barely spoke in class to a confident young woman who led school debates and academic competitions."
Faith's success in secondary school brought both pride and concern to her family. While they were proud of her achievements, some relatives worried that education was making her "too independent."
With support from the Msichana Initiative, Faith not only completed secondary school but earned admission to the University of Nairobi to study Education. The decision to leave her village for university was met with fierce opposition from her extended family.
"My uncles called a family meeting and declared that enough was enough," Faith recalls. "They said I had already gone too far and that it was time for me to marry and fulfill my role as a woman."
The family pressure was intense. Faith's grandmother, who was highly respected in the community, initially opposed her university plans. "She told me that educated women become arrogant and lose their cultural values," Faith says.
Faith's father, Ahmed Wanjiku, initially skeptical, became her biggest supporter after seeing her determination. "If my daughter believes education will help her help others, then I will support her," he declared at a village meeting, despite facing criticism from other community members.
At the University of Nairobi, Faith encountered a world vastly different from her village life. "The first time I used a computer, I was 19 years old," she laughs. "My classmates had been using technology since childhood, while I was learning everything from scratch."
Faith chose to study Education because she wanted to return to her community and make a difference. "I saw how the lack of quality education had limited opportunities for people in my village," she explains. "I wanted to be part of the solution."
University wasn't easy. Faith struggled financially, often surviving on one meal a day. The Msichana Initiative provided partial support, but Faith took on part-time jobs to make ends meet.
"I worked as a house help for a family in Nairobi during weekends and holidays," Faith shares. "It was humbling, but it taught me the value of hard work and humility."
Despite the challenges, Faith excelled academically. She graduated with Second Class Honors (Upper Division) and was awarded the Dean's Prize for Outstanding Community Service for her volunteer work in Nairobi's informal settlements.
"Faith didn't just study education; she lived it," says Professor Jane Mwangi, her university supervisor. "She spent her free time teaching literacy classes in Kibera slum, applying what she learned in class to real-world situations."
Faith's undergraduate thesis focused on "Barriers to Girls' Education in Pastoralist Communities," drawing from her personal experience and extensive research in her home region.
Faith's graduation ceremony in June 2024 drew over 200 people from her village – the largest group to ever travel from Dadaab to Nairobi. Her achievement sent shockwaves through the community and sparked conversations about girls' education.
"I had never been to a university before Faith's graduation," says Chief Ibrahim Ali. "Seeing the ceremony, understanding what she had accomplished, it opened my eyes to what education can do."
The local radio station in Garissa covered Faith's graduation story, making her the first person from Dadaab to be featured in regional media for educational achievement.
True to her commitment, Faith returned to her community as a teacher. She now runs the local primary school and has implemented innovative teaching methods that have improved learning outcomes by 60%.
"When Faith took over as head teacher, everything changed," says parent Hassan Mohammed. "She introduced new teaching methods, improved the school environment, and most importantly, she made education exciting for our children."
Faith introduced technology to her rural school, securing tablets through partnerships with NGOs and teaching both students and teachers how to use digital learning resources.
More importantly, Faith has become a living example of what education can achieve. Since her graduation, 50 girls from her village have enrolled in secondary school – a 300% increase from previous years.
"When I was growing up, only 4-5 girls from our village would attempt secondary school each year," Faith explains. "Now, we have 17 girls who completed Form Four last year, and 12 of them are continuing to college or university."
"When girls see me teaching, when they see I'm successful and respected, they believe they can be too."
Faith has also influenced marriage patterns in her community. The average age of marriage for girls in Dadaab has increased from 16 to 20 years, giving more girls time to complete their education.
Faith has established an after-school program for girls, providing them with additional academic support and life skills training. She also conducts regular community meetings to educate parents about the importance of girls' education.
"Every month, Faith organizes 'Education Days' where she invites parents to see what their daughters are learning," explains local religious leader Sheikh Omar Hassan. "She has shown us that educated daughters are still good daughters."
Her impact extends beyond her immediate community. Faith now serves as a regional ambassador for girls' education, speaking at schools and community gatherings across Garissa County.
Faith's success has come with personal sacrifices. At 25, she remains unmarried, which continues to be a source of concern for some family members.
"Some relatives still ask when I will marry and start a family," Faith says. "But I've learned to define success on my own terms. Right now, my mission is to ensure that other girls have the opportunities I fought for."
Faith has also faced challenges in modernizing education in a traditional community. Some parents initially resisted her methods, particularly the inclusion of girls in science and mathematics programs traditionally reserved for boys.
Faith is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership through distance learning while continuing her teaching duties. She dreams of eventually earning a PhD and influencing education policy at the national level.
"My village was the starting point, but I want to impact education for pastoralist communities across Kenya," Faith explains. "Every girl deserves the chance to discover her potential."
Faith has also started a scholarship fund for girls from pastoralist communities, having already supported 8 girls through secondary school with funding from her modest teacher's salary and donations from well-wishers.
Faith's younger cousins and nieces now see university education as an achievable goal. Her 16-year-old cousin, Amina, is currently in Form Three and dreams of becoming an engineer.
"Faith showed us that a girl from Dadaab can achieve anything," Amina says. "When people say engineering is too hard for girls, I think of Faith and I know I can do it."
The transformation in Faith's village is visible to visitors. The primary school now has a library, computer lab, and science laboratory – all initiatives Faith championed and helped secure funding for.
Faith's work has been recognized at the county and national levels. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Young Teacher Award from the Teachers Service Commission and was featured in the national curriculum as a case study for "Education as a Tool for Community Transformation."
"Faith represents what's possible when we invest in girls' education," says Dr. Mercy Wanjiku, Director of Girls' Education at the Ministry of Education. "Her story is being used to inspire policy changes across the country."
Looking ahead, Faith plans to establish a girls' boarding school in Garissa County specifically designed for pastoralist communities. "I want to create a safe space where girls can learn without the daily pressure to abandon their education," she explains.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Faith's story is how it has changed the aspirations of an entire generation. Village elders who once opposed girls' education now proudly speak about their educated daughters and granddaughters.
"Faith didn't just break barriers for herself," reflects her former headmaster, Mr. Ali Hassan. "She broke them for every girl who will come after her. That's the true power of her achievement."
As Faith continues her work, she carries with her the dreams of countless girls who see in her story the possibility of their own transformation. From a village where no girl had ever gone to university, Faith has created a pathway that dozens are now following.
At 14, Amina was forced to drop out of school when her family couldn't afford fees. Today, she's a qualified nurse serving her community and mentoring other girls.
How Mary turned traditional beadwork skills into a thriving business that employs 25 women in her community.
Do you have an inspiring story to share? We'd love to hear from you and share it with our community.