Walter Wagude’s path was different from that taken by his colleagues in the first cohort at the M-PESA Foundation Academy, but his story is bound to inspire many of them, and those still at the school.

Walter came to learn about the M-PESA Foundation Academy from a newspaper advertisement and became among the first lot of bright students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds at the school in Thika.

Three years later, when he was in Form Three, he qualified for an exchange programme to the United States.

He has depended on the fundamental values instilled in students at the Academy to keep him grounded and focused, and now he is among the 90 percent of the cohort headed to international universities.

The investment channeled into the Academy was well worth the reward for both students and the Foundation as the school achieved a mean grade of B- in the 2019 KCSE examinations, with all students successfully securing spots in local and international universities.

Earlier 2020, the Academy launched the Uongozi Centre where students are being hosted for a year-long Entrepreneurial Leadership program meant to widen the students’ perspective on Kenyan and African issues while providing them with skills to further broaden their minds in their chosen fields in university.

Walter shares his story of resilience, community and the importance of the support and belief system that got him where he is today- a proud Alumnus of the Academy starting a new chapter in life as he prepares to enter university.

His stars are aligning and as his dreams take flight, his hope is to inspire the dreams and journeys of the new crop of leaders in Africa.