A 27-year-old Bomet man who walked 250km to Nairobi in search of school fees has finally heard some good news, and his story is touching many people.
After an 11-year wait since completing his high school education in 2015, Kibet Duncan has now qualified for unconditional admission to Mount Kenya University to further his Bachelor in Education course.
MKU announced on Monday, February 9, 2026, that Kibet would also be hosted at university hostels as he undertakes his registration process.
His journey became a viral sensation as he walked for four days from Bomet to Nairobi last month with the hope of securing a sponsor to pay his school fees and secure his spot at university.
“‘Duncan Kibet’s story is a remarkable testament to courage, resilience, and the transformative power of education,’ MKU said in part. ‘The youth’s determination shows that no dream is too big to achieve when one is committed to their vision.’”
Kibet began running at 5:33 a.m. on January 28, covering the route through Narok and Ololunga, and posting updates through social media posts as he battled fatigue, hunger, and thirst.
“It was tough,” he recalled.
The public responded with small donations and contributions towards food and a place to rest along the way. He had raised around Ksh12,000 by the time he reached Nairobi, most of which was through donations from a WhatsApp group.
Yet what he chiefly hoped for wasn’t the occasional gift but rather the possibility of finding a sponsor to pay his university fees.
“I had already received my admission, but I didn’t have the fees to pay and join. I was supposed to report on Monday,” he had said before MKU intervened.
Raised in a single-parent household, Kibet had been allowing his younger brother to further his own education, as his brother had achieved an A- grade, which allowed him a place at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
“I saw that my brother did very well, and I wanted him to go first,” Kibet explained, noting that he took casual jobs to support his brother’s studies.
Now, after more than ten years of waiting and a journey that captured the nation’s interest, Kibet’s dream of joining university is finally taking shape. MKU is inviting all its well-wishers and partners to join him in his new journey.
