Herder's son Saitabau Lulunken wanted a life filled with more than village herding, looking up at Mt Kilimanjaro for what seemed like an unattainable aspiration.
Due to hard work, passion and unrelenting drive — and his father's sale of his cows to finance his dream— Lulunken on Friday last week graduated with a bachelor's degree in international relations.
He's a hero in is obscure village in a Kajadio South.
He may be the first in his village to attend university. His father never knew one of his sons would get a degree.
Today, Lulunken and his father Lulunken ole Meoli are walking tall. Education opportunities are extremely limited, but that didn't stop him.
The communities around his village never had public libraries and the schools were not much to speak of.
Lunken said he will work closely with his his community to send other herder boys to school.
"I am grateful to my father for selling his cows for my university education. I don't know how I will ever repay him," Lunken told the Star.
Lulunken is a lantern that many other boys and girls can use to cross over from dark places without much hope to a brighter life.
He's already the talk of the village.
“Our community today is yearning for young people like Lulunken to rebuild their future and solve the serious challenges we face,” says his mentor, Losioki Somoire.
Somoire told the Star on Tuesday that Lulunken’s zeal and energy will inspire the youth in Kajiado’s Amboseli villages to grow their economy. He said the young man's achievement will show parents there's a reason for education and children who strive can achieve.
“The young man’s courage and resolve will help us save our Amboseli ecosystem as we grapple with climate change. He is young and energetic. This is the kind of youth we need in society — with ideas, enthusiasm, passion and imagination,” says Somoire.
Somoire added,“For the 12 years I have known Lulunken, he has been an asset, a student, a teacher, a mentor and a powerhouse of ideas. I celebrate him as he starts his journey of lifelong learning and impact.:
(Edited by V. Graham)