By Anderson Ojwang
Last Friday at midday, Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums were brought to a standstill by a piercing scream that instantly paralysed business in the bustling settlement.
Residents are accustomed to Mama Lilian Atieno Akeyo—fondly known as Mama Omena—as an ever-smiling, calm, and warm-hearted woman who avoids trouble at all costs. So when frantic screams erupted from her mabati house, neighbours rushed in, fearing the worst.
Akeyo, a widow, was found overwhelmed with tears and sweat, screaming uncontrollably while calling on God and thanking the Almighty for a miracle. When she finally calmed down enough to speak, she could only utter one name repeatedly: “Femi, Femi, Femi…”
The crowd was momentarily confused—Femi was right there, seated in front of her.
“Femi… yes, it is A–,” Akeyo finally muttered.
That was all it took. The crowd erupted into spontaneous song and dance. Residents lifted Femi shoulder-high as the entire slum burst into celebration. Her success became the pride of Mukuru Kwa Njenga.
Femi Atieno Otung had scored an A– in the just-released Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. She was a student at St Theresa Mbooni Girls Secondary School.
Orphaned in Class Three following the death of her father, Femi never looked back in her pursuit of education. She consistently excelled academically, scoring 411 marks out of 500 in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
“I didn’t know whether I would join secondary school. My mother could not afford the fees, and I kept praying for God to intervene,” Femi recalled. “I was optimistic that a way would open. I dedicated myself to prayer and fasting because I had a dream I could not afford to let die.”
Her prayers were answered through Mr Eric Ambuche, founder of the Slums Outreach Programme, who linked her to former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju.
“Tuju was very fatherly. I had not felt a father’s love for a long time. He gave me reassurance and comfort I had longed for over the years,” Femi said. “I knew God had answered my prayers. There was no turning back.”
She describes Tuju as humble, simple, and deeply caring. “Despite his status, he treated me with dignity. I realised my future was in my hands, and I had to make the opportunity count,” she said.
Tuju agreed to sponsor her secondary education, and Femi did not disappoint. Instead, she became a role model to girls in the slums.
“We should not only help our relatives,” Tuju said. “God commands us to help anyone whenever we can. Often, the prayers and gratitude of those we help from the heart reach God more than those of relatives who feel entitled.”
On Sunday, Femi and her family caught a glimpse of the life ahead when Tuju hosted them for lunch at his Karen residence. From the slums to leafy Karen, Femi was introduced to a future she is steadily conquering.
“Some parents have flown their children to Dubai and bought them expensive gifts,” Tuju said. “Today, I am hosting Femi and her family to recognise her achievement and to remind her that anything is possible. Commitment and dedication determine one’s future.”
Femi, the third-born in her family, is however pained by her elder sister’s situation. Despite scoring a B– in the 2022 KCSE examinations, her sister, Sophy Adhiambo, has been unable to join Moi University after her former school detained her result slip over fees arrears.
Her elder brother, who scored a C, works as a casual labourer in town, but his meagre earnings cannot offset the accumulated fees.
Tuju reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Femi through her education, noting that education is the most powerful tool to uplift a family.
“I am deeply grateful to Mr Tuju,” Femi said. “He is the father I never had. Through him, my future has taken shape, and I am determined to give back to society. This is the greatest lesson he has taught me.”
