From a children’s home to top engineer

By Kiundu Waweru

It was a rare moment of celebration at Mama Ngina’s Children’s Home when their favourite son returned with an engineering degree.

Mr Eric Ngondi grew up in the home dependent on the mercy of well-wishers often going without. But he went on to beat all odds to graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with a degree in environmental engineering.

He is the first child from the home to have graduated with a degree. "The party was meant to inspire the children at the home by showing them what one can achieve with determination, discipline and respect," Ngondi says.

He recalls how he would study late into the night and wake up early in the morning to pick up from where he left off. "I made full use of books donated to the home," he says.

Supported

But he is not ready to talk about how and why he ended up at the home. "I am grateful to the many people who supported me to where I am today with their generous contributions that catered for my education," he says.

Ngondi, 24, says although he grew up in a home with 100 other children, he had a good childhood. "Our caregivers inspired us to be the best we could be," he says

He went to Nairobi’s Our Lady of Mercy Primary and Consolata High schools. Both were day schools. "I loved science since primary school and I decided to undertake Environmental Engineering at the University," says Ngondi who scored a B+ in KCSE.

The Kenol/Kobil Scholarship Fund for bright children from underprivileged families, paid his university fees.

He got an internship at the company after Form Four and a job after university.

"I thank the company for giving me a chance.