KU Graduate Says He Walked Home Alone After Ceremony Because Single Mum Couldn't Afford Fare

• Phillip Solonka shared walking home in his graduation regalia after everyone else had left because his mum had not sown up
• Solonka, who hails from Namanga, is the son of a single mum and was educated by a well-wisher from Meru county identified as Anthony
• On his graduation day, the Bachelor of Education degree holder walked to the home of his friend, who was hosting for the time being

A young man who was seen sitting forlornly at the Kenyatta University graduation square and then subsequently walking home has said that it was a very heartbreaking moment for him.

Solonka graduates from Kenyatta University

Phillip Solonka graduated from Kenyatta University with a Bachelors Degree in Education, and after the ceremony, he just had to walk home because his single mother could not raise the money to come all the way from Namanga to the university to help him.

"I had a lot of stress; it was not a normal thing to stand alone because in life you need someone to stand with you during the important milestones," he told TUKO.co.ke in an interview.

"Seeing other people being accompanied by their loved ones broke my heart. My mother lives in Toitoktok and she tried looking for money but she did not get anything" he added.

Joining Kenyatta University has not been so easy for Solonka; he is the son of a single mum and was almost giving up on education when a well-wisher stepped in.

Anthony educates Solonka

"We were watching TV in a cinema hall, and the man identified as Anthony was impressed by my intelligence and asked me if I wanted to go to school. I had just finished Class Eight and didn't have fees to proceed to high school," he said.

"I later joined Mukono Secondary School, and bursaries also helped me a lot. Performance was favouring me and I was always in the top five. I didn't have money to go to KU, and Anthony hurriedly cobbled up a WhatsApp group that raised funds for me," said Anthony.

On August 27, 2018, Solonka joined KU. Armed with only KSh 5000, the young comrade had to buy personal belongings and use the money to survive.

"I wasn't extravagant and couldn't afford to date. I went from having two meals a day and things were so hard for me. I tried looking for waiter gigs in Githurai and in the city centre but didn't find any. I tried doing some academic writing jobs and they kept me afloat for a long time.

"When I came for the graduation, I didn't have anything and had no money. A friend was hosting me. I later left for home and I just prayed in the car as tears flowed from my eyes. That is how bad it was,"he said.

Video of lone graduate walks alone on graduation day

On December 2023, there were many graduations, and people celebrated with all the pomp and glamour alongside their families.

Netizens were, however, touched by a graduate who walked on foot all alone in his flowing graduation gown.

It was a touching moment for many, with some sharing similar stories of how they celebrated their milestones all alone.