He Won a US Scholarship, but Financial Struggles Put His Future at Risk
Seventeen-year-old Brian Mwaura Ng’ang’a has secured admission to St John’s University in New York but still needs $34,114 per year to cover remaining costs despite a $47,000 annual scholarship.
Brian, from Kajiado County, earned an A– in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, placing him among the top 0.5 per cent of candidates nationwide. He studied at St Joseph’s Boys High School in Kitale, where he also took part in drama, debate, poetry, scouting and French.
He has faced significant financial hardship. Brian and his elder brother live in a partially built family home without electricity or running water following the death of their grandmother. Their mother works as a nanny in Nairobi, while their father relies on casual labour.
Much of Brian’s education has been supported by relatives, including his uncle, Andrew Mungai, who lives in the United States and helped guide his university applications. Brian received offers from both St John’s University and Stony Brook University and chose St John’s to study computer science with a focus on cybersecurity.
His scholarship package includes several awards, such as the Academic Promise Award and the Ozanam Scholars Programme, covering more than half of the estimated annual cost of $81,114. The remaining amount presents a major challenge for his family, who are unable to meet the expense.
His brother, who works as a casual labourer, has encouraged him to focus on his studies rather than seek manual work. His mother has said that her income cannot support overseas education costs.
While awaiting funding, Brian has been tutoring students at Enkasiti Junior Secondary School. His uncle has started fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign, targeting diaspora communities, foundations and corporate sponsors. As an international student, Brian cannot access US federal aid or most private loans.
