Eldoret security guard graduates with First Class honours after years of sacrifice

A student from Eldoret who spent four years guarding commercial premises on overnight shifts while attending university classes during the day has graduated with First Class Honours from Mount Kenya University.

Elvas Kipruto Tuwei attained top marks in his Bachelor of Education Science degree, specialising in Chemistry and Physics, overcoming a gruelling daily schedule that required balancing full-time employment with demanding academic coursework.

Tuwei worked overnight as a guard for Mocam Security, earning an essential income to cover his university tuition and daily living expenses at a time when financial options were limited.

Instead of scaling back his campus activities to ease his workload, Tuwei took on a central administrative role within student governance, serving as Secretary General of the Mount Kenya University Students Association.

Reflecting on his university trajectory in a social media message on August 7, Tuwei addressed the physical demands of managing overnight security duties alongside student leadership and academic requirements.

"Balancing night shifts as a security guard, serving as a student leader and pursuing my studies was not easy, but His grace sustained me throughout the journey," Tuwei wrote.

His university education was further supported by public funding through a National Government Constituencies Development Fund bursary awarded under Moiben MP Prof. Phylis Bartoo.

Tuwei's academic progression relied on community intervention well before he entered into higher education. His secondary education at Kipsangui Boys High School was sponsored by financial contributions from residents of the Kimore community.

He described his graduation as more than an individual achievement, calling it the product of personal discipline, faith, and targeted support from individuals and public institutions that stood by him along the way.

His story has drawn wide admiration across academic and civic circles as a testament to resilience.

On Facebook, popular influencer Arap Uria congratulated Tuwei. 

"Supporting Elvas Tuwei from a security guard to a First Class graduate is a powerful example of what opportunity and belief can achieve," he wrote, hailing Moiben MP Phyllis Bartoo for supporting the man.