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| PHOTO source: Strathmore University |
For most people, success doesn’t come easy, and for Cheruiyot Kipkirui, the road to becoming an accountant was full of struggles and sacrifices.
His story begins after high school when he moved to Nairobi with nothing but big dreams and determination to study further.
Money, however, was a major challenge. He could not afford school fees, but giving up was never in his plans. To survive, he got a job as a security guard.
Even with long, tiring shifts, he stayed focused on improving himself. He enrolled for a computer course at the Kenya Institute of Management while saving for his bigger goal — to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
In 2015, he finally began his CPA journey. After asking around, he found Strathmore University, a school known for quality accounting programs.
Getting admitted there was a dream come true. But reality soon hit — working at night and studying during the day was exhausting. He had little time to sleep and often walked long distances to save on transport.
Life got harder when he was transferred to a distant work station. His father stepped in to help for a while, but soon after, his father was diagnosed with cancer.
Cheruiyot had to take care of him, and school had to pause. He missed his exams that semester but promised himself he would not give up.
When he returned, a mentor advised him to seek help from the university’s Financial Aid Office. Luckily, he got a scholarship that eased his fee burden.
Still, finding a place to stay was difficult. His cousin later offered him a place to live, but another job transfer to Murang’a forced him to drop out again.
He kept trying, working different security jobs, though the pay was little and unreliable. Friends and well-wishers later organized a small fundraiser that helped him return to school. Slowly but surely, he pushed through his CPA sections.
His final paper — Business Data Analytics — needed a laptop and good internet, which he couldn’t afford. He failed the paper and even lost his job due to misunderstandings with his employer.
Still, he refused to quit. When he returned to the Financial Aid Office, they offered him a job as a student assistant. That opportunity changed everything.
Cheruiyot finally completed his CPA and graduated. His story is proof that with determination, faith, and support, even the toughest journey can end in victory.
