Do you know that uneasy feeling that creeps in as graduation day draws closer when you are an undergraduate student? It’s the kind that sticks around like a shadow, stubbornly ignoring all the motivational quotes plastered on your wall and bathroom mirror. That’s the dread that gripped Huldah as her final semester rolled by. Her friends were already deep into internship applications, sending out resumes and landing interviews. But for her, it was different. She didn’t feel ready. She didn’t feel she had enough to show for the previous four years. Her confidence was at rock bottom, and it didn’t help that her best friends, Joy and Linet, were stuck in the same rut. They’d meet up and laugh about everything, yet there was this silent, shared anxiety gnawing at all of them.
Linet Ithara, Hulda Kaura, and Joy Kendi first met at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. It started simply in one of the university’s computer science labs, where a mutual friend introduced them. It didn’t take long after their first meeting to start hanging out regularly. Kendi’s house became their go-to spot, a space where they could unwind and let go of the stress from the day. Joy’s house became the heart of it all. Known for her generosity and love for hosting, Joy made sure her friends felt at home. With her unstoppable ambition and charm, Huldah brought the group together with her energy, always sparking laughter and engaging in deep conversations. Linet’s love for creativity and the finer things in life added a special touch to their time together. Their friendship grew from these laid-back hangouts into something more substantial. They joined the Society of Engineering Students together, drawn by their common interest. During one of those seemingly regular club meetings, Dorcas Litunya, a KamiLimu alum, showed up to share her story.
Dorcas started with words that were all too familiar yet felt like a lifeline whenever someone said them: “KamiLimu changed my life.” She spoke about how the mentorship shaped her skills, helped her grow, and landed her a coveted internship at Microsoft ADC. Listening to her, Hulda, Linet, and Joy couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope. Seeing someone they know break through the same barriers they faced was like watching the door open to a world they only dreamt of. By the end of the session, it was clear to the trio that if KamiLimu were the door, they’d need to be brave enough to knock on it — hand in hand. Interestingly, they each applied secretly, thinking it would be easier to handle rejection alone if things didn’t work out. But the universe had something else in store. They all got accepted into KamiLimu Cohort 8 in March of 2024. You can picture the sheer joy and disbelief when they shared the news with each other — realizing they’d just stepped into this vantage opportunity — together.
Their first few weeks at KamiLimu felt surreal, and eight months of the program seemed like a lot to take on. However, the three friends approached the experience with the same intentionality as they did their friendship. After each session, they’d gather together and share everything they’d learned, exchanging notes and reflections to cement their learnings. Each time, marveling at how Kamilimu exceeded every expectation, fueling their eagerness for the upcoming sessions. The trio found themselves brimming with new confidence regarding job hunting. They’d gone from struggling to fill in their CVs to creating documents that told their story through qualification and quantification of their skills and achievements. Those boring, copy-paste cover letters? They were a thing of the past. Now, they had letters that not only captured who they were but also shone a light on their skills and achievements, even at this early stage of their careers.
And their portfolios? No more random pieces of work — it was now a curated collection that showed off their best projects. As part of their mentorship on Innovation and ICT, Linet and Joy chose Data Science, and Huldah chose Web Development — where they learned to become sharp problem-solvers who could identify a socioeconomic problem, use human-centered design to curate the solution, implement their learned ICT skills to build a solution, and pitch market-ready early-stage solutions. Every session at Kamilimu fine-tuned their thinking, and now, they know how to communicate their value and tackle real-world problems like pros. The best part? They found a whole community of like-minded people in Kamilimu. Whether it was sharing advice on the next career move or offering encouragement before a big interview, they now had a solid crew of amazing individuals cheering them on, ready to support them in every turn they took. This community and their shared determination to upskill led the three friends to qualify for the semifinal stage of KamiLimu’s public speaking competition — together.
During their KamiLimu journey, Linet, Hulda, and Joy have found that they more intentionally nurture their friendship by exploring concepts like love, apology, and acceptance languages, as taught in one of KamiLimu’s personal development sessions. This newfound understanding has enriched their relationship. Sharing similar struggles and aspirations, they support each other in navigating the complexities of life, their friendship serving as a significant pillar, providing strength and encouragement in their upskilling journey. As we ended the interview for this article, it was a marvel to see how kindly they spoke to and of each other.
Kendi to Huldah: You’re one of the kindest people I know. Your passion for everything you do is truly inspiring. You’re my go-to person for long talks; I could chat with you for hours!
Kendi to Linet: Your kindness knows no bounds. And your compassion makes everyone feel special.
Huldah to Kendi: Your generosity is unmatched. After a long day, I know I can count on you to invite us over for your amazing matoke or to let us cook at your place.
Huldah to Linet: Your energy is contagious. You thrive on human interactions and bring us together with your funny stories and beautiful smile. You always know how to lift our spirits, even on tough days.
Linet to Kendi: You’re the most generous friend anyone could ask for. Whether it’s sharing your space or cooking for us, you always go above and beyond.
Linet to Huldah: Your ambition is so inspiring. And even though you might seem a little too optimistic sometimes, I truly love that about you.
As they laughed and shared stories, it was clear that their friendship was a glorious mix of kindness, ambition, and joy — each one a vital thread in the tapestry of their lives, weaving together support, love, and endless memories. Their friendship gave us a glimpse of how KamiLimu nurtures skills, changes lives, and adds value to relationships. Linet, Hulda, and Joy’s journey to and during KamiLimu embodies how a positive community can enrich instead of take away — how learning is made all the better when we open ourselves to the care and kindness of those who wish to see us succeed. As the trio ends their Cohort 8 mentorship program, we are excited to cheer for them as they continue leaning on each other, climb professional ladders, and face life with all its sandstorms and beauty — together.
Interviews and write-up by Brian Kareithi (Content Delivery Lead, KamiLimu). Edited by Dr. Chao Mbogho (Founder and Lead, KamiLimu)
