Martha Akinyi Oloo, KCB Foundation Scholar Class of 2015
The memories of December 2011 and January 2012 are etched in my mind as pivotal moments that shaped the trajectory of my life. On December 28, 2011, I received my KCPE results, scoring 401 out of 500. It was a moment of immense joy mixed with anticipation and anxiety. My parents and siblings were overjoyed; it seemed like they were even happier than I was, especially since I was the first in our extended family to achieve a score of 400 and above. However, my immediate concern shifted to which high school I would attend and whether my family could afford the fees.
A few days later, I received the news of my admission to Alliance Girls’ High School (AGHS), a dream come true. I was beyond pleased—it was hard to believe. Me, a girl from Usonga, Lunyu village, at the prestigious Alliance! It was truly a remarkable achievement. However, there was a catch: to make this dream a reality, only a scholarship could help me. At just 13 years old, the weight of this moment was immense. With the unwavering support of my family, friends, and teachers, I applied for the KCB Foundation Scholarship Programme, clinging onto hope with all my strength.
The day of the interview remains vivid in my memory, every detail evoking a wave of nostalgia. It took place at Karapul Primary School, where about a hundred of us, accompanied by our parents, sat on desks under trees, each of us hoping to be among the two selected candidates. What were the odds? As I faced the panel, the floodgates of emotion burst open as I poured my heart out, sharing my dreams and aspirations intertwined with the possibility of attending AGHS. Despite my vulnerability, one of the panellists reassured me, promising that all would be well and urging me to hold fast to my dreams.
The KCB Foundation recognised my potential and extended the scholarship. The sheer joy I felt upon receiving that school fee cheque is indescribable—it felt like I was on top of the world, literally! My dreams were no longer distant aspirations but tangible realities. That very night, my parents and I travelled to Nairobi aboard the Easy Coach night bus as I prepared to embrace the next chapter of my life.
Alliance Girls’ High School became the cornerstone of my future, shaping not only my academic journey but also the person I have become. Amidst the rigours of academics, I forged lasting friendships and cultivated invaluable connections that continue to shape my journey. I became part of the great culture of women who have shaped and continue to shape the history of our country. Having friends, classmates, and teachers from diverse cultures and backgrounds taught me invaluable lessons about being open-minded and believing in oneself. Above all, those formative years instilled in me the understanding that, regardless of my humble beginnings, my worth is immeasurable, and yes, my dreams are valid!
My journey as a KCB Foundation scholar went beyond academics. Mentorship sessions at Starehe Boys’ Centre remain etched in my memory. It was a moment to meet other KCB Foundation scholars, share experiences, and learn from those who had walked similar paths before us. I still remember the sessions curated by Peak Performance, for example, and how intriguing and useful they were. My greatest memory by far is one of the addresses given by the then principal of Starehe Boys Centre. He said, quoting one of the phrases in the building’s entrance, “To those to whom much has been given, much is expected.” This statement made a deep impression on me, and it has stayed with me ever since, encouraging me to always go beyond, having received much from the people who have always believed in me.
Every school holiday, I would visit the KCB branch, Siaya, with my end-of-term results. My relationship with my mentors, Mr Kevin Obola and Mr Emmanuel, transcended mere academic guidance, evolving into a source of unwavering support and encouragement. I scored an A-minus in the KCSE exam and joined the Landscape Architecture programme at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in September 2016. At the end of every year, I would share my transcripts with them, and they never stopped encouraging me to go beyond. I graduated in April 2021 and immediately got my first job at a private landscape architecture firm. I went on to work as part-time staff at JKUAT before moving to Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) as a design intern and later getting promoted to a design coordinator role. While working at KDI, I received a scholarship to study design in Florence, Italy, which has been a life-changing moment for me, not only as a designer but also as a person.
Throughout these stages, my mentors offered steadfast support. When I graduated with First Class Honours in Landscape Architecture, for example, their pride and encouragement were evident. In fact, Mr. Kevin Obola wrote to me this message: “You will go places, Martha. I want to see you studying at one of the best universities in the US or UK. Start looking at ways of achieving that. You can hack it, Martha.”
His words of aspiration materialised on the 4th of March 2024, as I received admission to the Harvard University Graduate School of Design on a Dean’s Merit Award. The journey from uncertainty to triumph, from tears of despair to tears of joy, stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and unwavering support. Without the KCB Foundation, my journey would have been vastly different. However, through their generosity and belief in my potential, they not only paved the way to my success but also instilled in me the courage to transcend boundaries and seize every opportunity that came my way.
As I stand on the threshold of a new chapter, I carry with me the lessons learned, and the bonds forged, knowing that the journey ahead is illuminated by the collective belief of those who have walked alongside me. With gratitude in my heart and determination in my spirit, I am ready to embrace the future and make an indelible mark on the world.
