The ‘End Justifies the Means’ for Kenyan Man, 38, Who Graduated from Varsity After Nearly 30 Years in the Academic Trenches

Mr.Mathew Nyamlori (centre) with his parents Nerea Diangá (left) and Mr.Thomas Nyamlori (right) after his graduation ceremony at Kenyatta University in July. PHOTO: Mathew Nyamlori.

If there was ever an army of people who have suffered in life, and lived to tell the story, Mr. Mathew Aol Nyamlori, would be a Five Star General of that army.

This man, whose middle name literally translates to ”I am tired” has pushed the limits of patience, beyond what physicists call the ‘‘limit of elasticity’’ and overcome all conceivable odds to achieve his greatest goal in life; academic excellence.

It is the reason why on 23rd July 2021, Mr. Nyamlori, 38, was trending in Kenya. This man literally took over all social media platforms by storm. And he did so for a good reason. On that day, Mr. Nyamlori graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Kenyatta University in Kenya.

Mr. Nyamlori is no stranger to fame. For sometime now, he has been a constant fodder for the press, appearing in several interviews on TV, print and online. His singular story of determination, consistency and focus, is almost a fairy tale, the stuff that legends are made of.

His graduation from university was liberating. A breath of fresh air. Like a bird freed from its cage, Mr. Nyamlori tasted the fruits of academic liberty, one that he has followed through thick and thin, for almost 33 years.

It was the culmination of many years of hard work and sheer grit. He built his academic exploits by what former US President Barrack Obama calls, ‘‘block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.’’ Like Nelson Mandela, his has been a long walk academic to freedom.

‘‘This (graduation) means a lot to me. When you hold a university degree, you are free to interact with people from all walks of life, including the job market,’’ he says.

When I sat down with him to pick his mind on this incredible story, I really wanted to get a feel of what it must have felt like on 23rd July 2021.

‘‘That was the happiest day in my life. In fact, there are only two such days. The other day was in February 2012 when Equity Bank accepted me in their Wings to Fly Scholarship for my secondary education,’’ he tells me.

He is most grateful that his parents were present to witness this watershed moment for their son, who in spite of the travails of life, demonstrated that nothing is out of reach if you stretch you hand to receive it.

‘‘Problems, like everything else in life, are temporary. Your life will end the day your heart stops beating. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel,’’ he says excitedly.

Mr. Nyamlori was born on 4th January 1984, at Kipsimbol, in the present day Bomet County, about 226 kilometres West of Nairobi, the ninth born in a family of 13. His father Mr. Thomas Nyamlori Aol was a tailor in Bomet, and at times doubling in menial jobs in the area to fend for his large family, while his mother Nerea Diangá was a casual labourer.