Denis Mburu-PA-MOJA Scholarship Recipient

December 2019 Update

Name: Dennis Mburu

Age: 20 years old

School: Tigithi Boys Secondary School

Grade:11 (2020) (will be in grade 12 as of July 2021)

Like his brother Joseph, Denis also goes to Tigithi Secondary. This is one of the schools near the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and he is sponsored by PA-MOJA. His story is a sad one.  In 2007, during post election clashes that rocked parts of Kenya, he lost his parents. He and 6 of his siblings ended up living with their grandmother who is however well over 70 and in poor health. They were at the point of becoming orphans when they met with the PA-MOJA team who were visiting Mai Mahiu, which is where they were living. The team was touched by their story and decided to do more than just offer charity. They committed to educate him and his siblings and to take full responsibility for their lives until they were all old enough to fend for themselves and had at least collage education. That was in 2008.

Today, he is a far cry from the fearful boy that PA-MOJA met in Mai Mahiu.  He and his brother Joseph are classmates. Denis has a passion for environmental conservation. His grandmothers’ home is near the conservancy and he knows how hard it can be for wildlife to thrive with poachers posing a constant threat. He loves the fact that Ol Pejeta and PA-MOJA are partners since it means that the wildlife gets some support from PA-MOJA in addition to the scholarship project.  He aspires to work in architecture when he is done with school.  In the last few years, he says he has observed the Nanyuki skyline become more elegant with new projects and building. Denis wants to become part of this.

However he is also very keen on helping needy children. In his own words, “if PA-MOJA had not helped us, we would still be suffering without hopes for a good education”. Denis is sure that as soon as he is able, he will support the less fortunate because that is the best way to thank those who have helped him.  The two brothers love being in Tigithi secondary since they live together and help each other in school work. Although the two boys have different interests, they support each other and each tries to challenge the other to be the best they can be.