By SHABAN MAKOKHA
June 16, 2026| A heavy silence engulfed the packed compound of IGM Church at Bar Ndege village as Maseno University Vice-Chancellor Erick Otieno Nyambedha (pictured) narrated a heartbreaking story of a young girl whose life was nearly destroyed by drugs.
The student, once full of promise and ambition, had fallen into drug abuse. One day, while under the influence of narcotics, she allegedly set her parents’ house on fire, reducing years of sacrifice, family memories, and household belongings to ashes.
As students listened in disbelief, Prof. Nyambedha paused and asked a question that cut through the tents like a knife.
“What leisure do you get from sleeping in a road drainage after getting intoxicated by drugs and alcoholo?”
The question was not merely rhetorical. It was a desperate appeal from an educator who has spent decades watching talented young people throw away their futures because of poor choices.
Addressing students during an education mentorship forum organised by Kathieno B Assistant Chief Joash Ogola in Ugenya Sub-county, the Vice-Chancellor urged learners to reject drugs and focus on the opportunities that education offers.
He warned that substance abuse continues to rob communities of some of their brightest minds, turning dreams into nightmares and transforming promising students into shadows of themselves.
“Every child is born with potential. Unfortunately, drugs steal that potential. They destroy families, careers, and lives,” he told the learners.
For many students seated before him, the message struck home.
Across the country, schools continue to grapple with increasing cases of drug and substance abuse among learners.
In the days since 16 students perished in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on the night of May 28, 2026, Kenya’s boarding schools have descended into what can only be described as a national emergency.
Fires have spread. Dormitories have been torched. Hundreds of students across multiple counties have been sent home.
Nationally recognized schools, institutions long regarded as the gold standard of Kenyan secondary education, have been shuttered indefinitely.
What often begins as curiosity or peer pressure gradually turns into addiction, poor academic performance, indiscipline, unrest and eventual school dropout.
Prof. Nyambedha said many young people fail to appreciate that every decision they make today shapes the person they will become tomorrow.
He challenged students to think beyond temporary pleasures and focus on building a future they would be proud of.
“The choices you make today will determine whether you become a doctor, teacher, engineer, entrepreneur—or whether you spend your life regretting missed opportunities,” he said.
Beyond the drug menace, the Vice-Chancellor expressed concern over the declining academic performance in Ugenya Sub-county.
His concern was evident as he reflected on the 2025 KCSE examination results.
For the first time in many years, the sub-county failed to produce a single grade A plain candidate.
The revelation left many education stakeholders worried.
“Ugenya did not register even one A plain in last year’s KCSE examinations. That should concern all of us,” he said.
According to him, the results were not merely statistics but a reflection of opportunities lost by young people who deserved better.
“This means something went wrong. As leaders, parents, teachers, and students, we must stand up to the occasion and ask ourselves hard questions.”
He called on all stakeholders to work together to revive academic excellence and restore confidence in the region’s education system.
Perhaps the most inspiring part of his speech came when he addressed students from humble backgrounds.
Many learners in rural Kenya often believe that success belongs to children from wealthy families—those with access to better schools, private tuition, and abundant resources.
Prof. Nyambedha strongly disagreed.
Looking directly at the students, he reminded them that some of Kenya’s most successful professionals emerged from villages where electricity, libraries, and modern learning facilities were scarce.
“You do not have to come from a rich family to succeed,” he said. “What you need is discipline, determination, and the willingness to work hard.”
He noted that universities are filled with students who overcame poverty, walked long distances to school, and studied under difficult circumstances before eventually excelling.
The difference, he said, was not money but commitment.
The Vice-Chancellor also challenged learners to avoid the temptation of shortcuts.
Whether through examination leakages, cheating, theft, or dishonest dealings, he warned that shortcuts rarely lead to lasting success.
“Do not look for easy ways out,” he told the students. “There is dignity in hard work.”
He reminded them that true achievement is built through patience, persistence, and integrity.
A certificate obtained through cheating, he said, cannot replace genuine knowledge and character.
As the forum came to a close, Prof. Nyambedha delivered one final message that resonated deeply with the audience.
He urged students to value time.
In an era dominated by social media distractions and endless entertainment, many young people fail to realise how precious their school years are.
“Every day and every hour counts in your academic life,” he said. “Once time is gone, you can never recover it.”
He encouraged learners to maximise every lesson, every assignment, and every opportunity to learn.
“Make use of your days in school. These are the years that will determine the direction of your future.”
As students filed out of the hall, many carried with them more than just academic advice.
They left with a powerful reminder that success is not determined by wealth, luck, or shortcuts, but by discipline, hard work, wise choices, and the courage to stay focused on one’s dreams.