By Victorine Nekesa
Communication and Media Student, Laikipia University
Every morning before the sun has fully risen, 21-year-old Brian wakes up, prepares his books and begins a long walk to class. For him, walking is not a fitness routine or a choice made for enjoyment. It is a way of saving the little money he has for food, learning materials and other daily needs.
Brian is a university student who lives a considerable distance from campus. Like many students facing financial pressure, he has learned to make difficult choices. Transport money that might appear small to someone else can make a significant difference to his daily budget.
"I would rather walk and keep the transport money for food," Brian says. "Sometimes I arrive in class tired, but I remind myself that I am here because I want to finish my studies."
His journey can take close to an hour depending on the weather and traffic. On rainy mornings, the walk becomes even more difficult. His shoes and clothes may become wet before he reaches the classroom, but he continues because missing lectures is not an option.
The decision to walk is not simply about saving a few coins. For Brian, every amount saved has a purpose. Transport money can become money for lunch, printing an assignment, buying stationery, accessing the internet or contributing towards other academic requirements. When money is limited, students are often forced to decide which needs should come first.
"Sometimes I have to decide whether to buy something for class or use the money for transport," Brian explains. "It is not easy, but I try to focus on why I came to university."
The rising cost of living has made university life increasingly difficult for some students. Besides transport, students have to find money for accommodation, meals, academic materials, internet access and personal necessities. For those who depend on limited family support, every shilling has to be carefully planned.
At times, the financial pressure affects more than a student's comfort. Walking long distances can leave students physically tired before lectures begin. A student may struggle to concentrate after spending a significant amount of time walking, especially when the journey is repeated every day.
Despite these challenges, Brian says that he has learned to view his daily walk as part of his journey towards achieving his dreams. Instead of allowing financial difficulties to stop him from attending class, he uses the situation as motivation to keep moving forward.
"I know things are difficult now, but I don't want to give up," he says. "One day I want to look back and say the sacrifices were worth it."
His experience reflects a broader challenge facing young people pursuing education. University education offers hope for a better future, but the cost of remaining in school can be a major burden for students from financially constrained households. Some students walk long distances, skip meals, postpone buying learning materials or look for small jobs to meet their daily needs.
For some, these sacrifices remain invisible. A student may enter a lecture hall looking like everyone else, yet behind that appearance could be a morning spent walking for kilometres simply to save enough money to get through the day. The struggle is rarely written on their faces, but it can shape their university experience.
Brian's story also shows the importance of determination. Although the walk is tiring, he believes every step has a purpose. He knows that completing his education could open opportunities that may eventually allow him to live a more comfortable life.
His friends have noticed the commitment he puts into his studies. Even when he arrives tired, he tries to participate in class and complete his assignments. He says that having a clear goal helps him endure the difficult days.
The long walk may appear ordinary to people passing by, but for Brian it represents determination, sacrifice and hope. Each step takes him closer to the classroom and, he hopes, closer to the future he has imagined for himself.
His story is a reminder that behind university lecture rooms are students carrying responsibilities and challenges that may not always be visible. Some are working part-time, others are depending on limited family support, while some are simply finding creative ways to survive from one day to the next.
For Brian, the road to education is not always easy or comfortable. Sometimes it is measured in kilometres walked, meals sacrificed and small amounts of money carefully saved. Yet he continues because he believes that today's sacrifices can create better opportunities tomorrow.
The writer is a Communication and Media student at Laikipia University who is interested in telling stories about the experiences and challenges facing Kenyan youth.
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