By BRIAN MUSYOKA
For the 24-year-old Richard Mbugua, graduation was never just about wearing the gown. It was a celebration of resilience, determination and the courage to work for his dreams.
On Friday, as the University of Embu celebrated its 2,367 graduates, Mbugua, a Bachelor of Information Technology graduate, turned heads along Mama Ngina Street in Embu Town.
Still dressed in his graduation gown, Mbugua returned to the same maize-roasting stand that helped him survive university life, bringing the busy street to a standstill as customers gathered to celebrate his remarkable achievement.
Mbugua joined the University of Embu in 2022 as a first-year student, determined to complete his studies and build a better future. After noticing that his classes were scattered throughout the university timetable, leaving him with considerable free time, he decided to use the opportunity productively. He started roasting maize along Mama Ngina Street.
What began as a simple hustle gradually became his source of upkeep, helping him meet his daily expenses while his mother, Wangui Mbugua, remained responsible for supporting his siblings back home in Nyandarua.
Through consistency and hard work, Mbugua built a loyal customer base. Interestingly, many of his customers did not initially know that the young man serving them roasted maize was also pursuing a university degree. “I never felt ashamed of what I was doing. I knew I was working to support myself and achieve my dream,” Mbugua said.
Years later, his perseverance paid off. On his graduation day, his customers did not just come for roasted maize. They came to celebrate one of their own. Some gathered around his stand, while one customer went a step further and brought a cake to honour his achievement.
The customers praised Mbugua for remaining humble and hardworking despite balancing business and university studies.
His mother, Wangui Mbugua, could not hide her happiness as her firstborn son graduated. She described Richard as an obedient and hardworking young man, saying his maize-roasting business was not something he had started at university.
According to Wangui, Richard used to roast maize even during his high school holidays, demonstrating his willingness to work from an early age. She said he was also a dedicated student and had played an important role in helping her navigate the financial challenges of educating him while also taking care of his other siblings. “He has helped me a lot in navigating the challenges of keeping him in school while I also have other children to take care of,” Wangui said.
She said she was particularly touched by the reception her son received from his customers on graduation day, adding that she had never imagined that his small business had enabled him to build such a strong bond with people in Embu Town.
Cecily Kithaka, a businesswoman in Embu Town, also expressed her joy at seeing Mbugua graduate. She said she had watched him endure the scorching sun while roasting maize in an effort to raise money and remain in school.
Kithaka described his journey as an example of determination, saying his willingness to work hard while pursuing his education should inspire other young people facing financial challenges.
Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi also recognised Mbugua's determination and offered to facilitate him in acquiring a passport so that he would be ready should an employment opportunity requiring him to travel abroad arise.
Mbugua's story is a reminder that there is dignity in honest work and no shame in starting small.
From a maize-roasting stand to a university graduation gown, his journey demonstrates that success does not always begin in an office. Sometimes, it begins with a simple idea, a little courage and the determination to keep going.
Now armed with a Bachelor of Information Technology degree, Mbugua is looking forward to his next chapter of life. He is appealing to well-wishers and employers in the technology sector to give him an opportunity to put his skills to work. He is also seeking support to expand his maize-roasting business as he searches for employment.
For Mbugua, the graduation gown may mark the end of his university journey but it is only the beginning of a much bigger dream.
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