You lit my candle, says university student as she mourns Mama Lucy

Stella Wanjiku who had her full secondary school education sponsored by Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki, scored an impressive A with 83 points in the results released by the Cabinet Secretary for Education Jacob Kaimenyi, March. 3, 2015. PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD

"You believed in me, you believed in my dreams. You lit a candle in my life when it was all dark. You gave me a chance to change my world and I will forever be grateful. Rest in peace knowing that I will keep the fire you lit burning. I miss you mum..."

This was a message of condolence penned by Stellah Wanjiku, 19, a first-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Nairobi, whose education was sponsored by Mama Lucy Kibaki.

Wanjiku sat her KCPE exams and received an admission letter to join Mahiga Girls Secondary School in Othaya, Nyeri. But as fate would have it, she was the daughter of a single mother, a casual labourer living with disability.

When The Standard highlighted her tribulations, well wishers poured in with pledges to help.

One special benefactor was Mrs Kibaki who pledged to sponsor Stellah to pursue her education.

She further said Stellah would be given First Family treatment. Lucy had the girl admitted to Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls, a leading academic institution in Central Kenya where she sat her KCSE exams two years ago and scored an A.

"The family is sponsoring my education at the university, where I am studying for a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. It is a big loss to me," she said.