From Macheo to Master’s: Becoming Mary Ayasi

I first met Mary Ayasi when we were both in secondary school, and today I am telling a story spanning more than a decade. Over 10 years of resilience, determination, hard work, and an unwavering refusal to give up.

Mary, a staff at Strathmore University and a beneficiary of the Macheo Achievement Programme graduates from her Masters in Commerce (MCOM). When she first joined the Macheo Achievement Programme, Mary was a young girl growing up in Kibera with dreams that felt much bigger than her circumstances.

At the time, university felt like a distant possibility. Strathmore University seemed even further away but the dream refused to fade away.

“I dreamed of escaping poverty, getting an education, and creating a better future for myself and my family,” she says. “Growing up in Kibera was not easy. There were many moments when I felt alone and uncertain about what the future would hold. Strathmore was known as a place for students from privileged backgrounds. It felt like a dream that belonged to other people, not someone like me.”

Today, Mary stands on the other side of that dream as a Master’s graduate, a wife, a mother, a professional, and the first person in her family to attend university. When asked about what would surprise her younger self the most, she reflects; “It is everything that happened along the way. I never imagined I would overcome so much loss, build a career, become a mother, and still keep moving forward. Looking back now, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

For her, Strathmore is more than a University. It has been a constant companion through nearly every chapter of her life. It was there from the time of the Macheo Achievement Programme before continuing at Strathmore Institute for her Certified Public Accountant, through her Bachelor of Commerce and eventually into her Masters of Commerce programme.

“At every stage, Strathmore meant something different to me,” she says. “As a Macheo beneficiary, it represented opportunity. At Strathmore Institute, it became a symbol of hope and possibility. During my undergraduate studies, it helped me discover confidence in myself and my abilities. During my Master’s programme, it became a place of healing, resilience, and growth.”

As the years passed, the institution evolved from being simply a place of learning into part of her personal story. “When I look back, some of my biggest opportunities, lessons, friendships, and transformations happened through Strathmore. It became more than a school. It became part of who I am.”

Each stage left her with lessons that continue to shape her life today. “From Macheo, I learned that where you come from does not determine where you will go. From Strathmore Institute, I learned discipline and consistency. During my undergraduate studies, I learned excellence and self-belief. My Master’s programme taught me resilience and the ability to keep moving forward even when life feels overwhelming.”

Yet behind the certificates and graduation photos is a story few people fully see. “People see the graduation gown, but they do not see the battles that were fought to wear it,” Mary says.
Behind the academic achievements were seasons marked by grief, uncertainty, and personal struggle. “They do not see the tears behind the certificates. They do not see the grief of losing your beloved ones. They do not see the complicated pregnancies, the sleepless nights, the emotional breakdowns, the loneliness, and the countless moments when I wondered whether I could continue.”

One of the darkest chapters of Mary’s life came with the loss of her loved one. “That experience could have changed the direction of my life completely,” she says. “It was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through.”

In the midst of that grief, she enrolled in her Master’s programme. A month later, she discovered she was pregnant. “Emotionally, physically, and mentally, everything felt overwhelming. There were moments when continuing felt impossible.”

Yet the classroom became a place of healing. “Every time I attended class, I found hope. It became a place where I could breathe, learn, and slowly heal. One class became one semester, and one semester eventually became a degree.”

Balancing work, family, motherhood, and academic life required extraordinary determination.
“An ordinary day was exhausting,” she says. “I was balancing work responsibilities, family obligations, classes, assignments, and pregnancy all at once.” Most days began before sunrise and ended long after everyone else had gone to bed. “There was very little time to rest, but I kept reminding myself why I started and who I was doing it for.”

That reason became even clearer through motherhood. “Motherhood completely changed my perspective on education. I am no longer pursuing success only for myself. Every lesson I learn, every qualification I earn, and every challenge I overcome becomes an example for my children.”

Her children became her greatest source of motivation. Every class I attended while pregnant felt like I was attending with one of them. Every kick during a lecture reminded me that I had a reason to keep pushing forward.”

Today, the Mary who graduates is not the same woman who began the BCOM programme: The Mary who entered the programme was grieving, broken, lonely, and searching for an escape from pain. “The Mary who is leaving is stronger, happier, wiser, and more resilient. I have learned that strength is not about avoiding challenges. It is about continuing despite them.”

Her understanding of success has changed as well. When she was younger, success meant escaping poverty. Today, success means impact. It means creating opportunities for others. “It means being present for my children. It means inspiring someone who feels invisible to believe in themselves,” she says.

As she reflects on her journey, Mary hopes her story reaches the young girls currently sitting where she once sat in the Macheo Achievement Programme. “I want them to know that their circumstances are temporary. Being born in Kibera does not limit your future. You can dream beyond what you see around you.”

And perhaps that is what makes Mary’s story so powerful. It is not simply the story of a Master’s graduate. It is the story of a young girl who dared to dream beyond her circumstances, a woman who refused to give up when life became unbearable, and a mother determined to create a different future for the generation that follows.

More than a decade after a bus ride to Karura Forest introduced duo strangers to one another, we celebrate not only a graduation, but a journey marked by courage, resilience, friendship, and hope.

Article Written by Nekesa Teresa

Adapted from strathmore.edu on 21 July 2026, 4.00 pm