Due to her exemplary work ethic, they extended her mandatory three-month internship that she had bagged through the Career Development Services. However, on her seventh month in her first job, the human resource manager approached her and a fellow intern and classmate, to let them know that due to the dire business circumstances, the company would have to let one of them go.

She volunteered to leave with the knowledge that although the stipend she received assisted her financially, her colleague would need it more as he was unwell and needed it for his medical expenses. Less than a fortnight later, she got her another placement at Skytrade International where she is currently.

“I’ve been here since 2019 working as an assistant accountant. Unfortunately, my classmate succumbed to his illness not long after.”

Moureen Mokeira officially added CPA-K (Certified Public Accountants-Kenya) tag next to her name after this year’s Strathmore Institute of Management and Technology (SI) graduation ceremony.

She joined SI in July 2015 following in the footsteps of her elder brother. “My brother would come home and brag about having passed yet another section in CPA. I was in high school at the time and I loved mathematics and business studies. So I thought, why not follow in his footsteps?”

Coincidentally, a Strathmore University (SU) marketing team made a trip to St Mary’s Viwandani where she was in her final year of high school. “As I was among the top performing students in my class, I sat for the Strathmore entrance exam and got an admission letter even before we sat for KCSE. We were two of us who got the opportunity to though I was the only one who eventually joined SU. My parents only catered for part of the fees as I got a partial scholarship.”

While at the University, she appreciated being treated as a grownup – as someone who knew what brought them to the University. “Even though I was not yet a professional, as everyone around me carried themselves in a professional manner, I got encouraged to carry myself in a more dignified manner. And when I first stepped foot in Strathmore, I was intrigued by people’s walking styles. I mean, people didn’t just walk ‘anyhowly’. They walked with confidence and purpose!”

She treasured the soft skills sessions and ethics classes the most. “We were taught crucial skills that help one navigate the outside would with respect: how to eat, sit, hold respectful conversations, and how to laugh; you know, you can’t just laugh aimlessly.”

Later, after a few years of the Strathmore experience, she encouraged her brother to join the University to pursue his undergraduate degree. He too is now an alumnus after graduating in the Class of 2020 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Was CPA tough? “Not really. I think it depends on your commitment to study although the time and hard work it requires is not a joke. The completion time also largely depends on you.”

Outside the classroom, she has five medals to her name from the annual sports day at SU. “I was nicknamed Jelimo because of my speed in track races, especially the lengthy ones.”

She is grateful to the lecturers who enriched her Strathmore experience. “Our lecturers were approachable both in class and out of class. I especially remember Dr. McFie, Peter Kukubo, Bob Marshall, Lydia Akinyi, and Simon Musyoki. If you fall into their hands, you are guaranteed of a pass if you do your part.”

She now plans to give back by mentoring students in the Macheo programme and by joining the admissions team on their marketing trips as she would like to see younger people get an opportunity to get an all-round education just like she did.

“I come from a humble background, but like Kipchoge said, no human is limited. It’s very clear to me that my background does not determine my future: Where I come from does not determine where I am going.”

 

This article was written by Wambui Gachari.   

 

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