Hard work pays: Embu man selling mahindi choma for 4 years earns IT degree
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Richard Mbugua Mwaura sold roasted maize along Mama Ngina Street in Embu Town for four years to fund his university education
- The University of Embu graduate returned to his street hustle in his graduation gown to mark the milestone
- Motivational blogger Ndungu Nyoro shared Mbugua's story on Facebook, where it quickly captured public attention
An Embu man who spent four years roasting and selling maize on one of the town's busiest streets to pay his way through university has graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology from the University of Embu.
Richard Mbugua Mwaura set up his makeshift stall along Mama Ngina Street in Embu Town, using the income from his roadside trade to cover tuition fees and basic living expenses while pursuing his degree.
Far from hiding the hustle that carried him through those years, Mbugua chose to honour it in the most visible way possible: he returned to his old spot in his graduation gown after the ceremony.
The image of a university graduate standing at a maize-roasting stall in full academic regalia captured what words alone rarely can.
Mbugua returns to the streets to roast maize
For Mbugua, the return was not ironic; it was a tribute. The street had not held him back. It had, quite literally, paid for the degree he now holds.
Ndungu Nyoro shared Mbugua's story on Facebook on August 22, 2026, describing the journey as proof that humble beginnings carry no power over a person's destination.
The post drew widespread attention online, with many readers moved by the young man's determination to stay in school regardless of the circumstances.
Mbugua's long hours on his feet pay off
Working a street food stall while managing university coursework demands an unusual kind of discipline.
Early mornings, long hours on one's feet, the heat of charcoal fires, and the need to save enough from daily sales to meet semester deadlines: Mbugua navigated all of this across four academic years before finally walking across the graduation stage.
His story speaks to a reality familiar to many Kenyan students who study whilst hustling, whether through bodaboda riding, hawking, or casual labour, simply to remain enrolled.
What sets Mbugua's story apart?
What sets Mbugua's story apart is the deliberateness with which he marked the end of that chapter, choosing celebration over distance from his past.
With his IT degree in hand, Mbugua now steps into a field where Kenya's digital economy continues to grow, offering graduate opportunities in software development, systems administration, and technology consultancy, among others.
The street that once funded his ambition now stands as the backdrop to one of his proudest moments.
Eldoret security guard graduates with first class honors
In another story, We also highlighted facts about Elvas Kipruto Tuwei, who defied the odds by completing a Bachelor of Education Science degree with First Class Honours from Mount Kenya University while working as a night security guard.
His journey of perseverance, supported by community and financial aid, served as an inspiring testament that one's circumstances don't dictate their potential for success.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.