Courses taught by Mr. Musyimi are amongst those which read “full’ three days after the first day of Daystar University’s OARS registration of the coming semesters’ courses. One may argue that this is because of the demand of the courses. However, I attribute this to the demand of the lecturer. Those who have experienced his lectures would agree that Mr. Musyimi’s charisma, objectivity and relished fatherly approach to teaching attract students to his classes.
“He lectures my ethics in communication class and I describe his lectures as a breath of fresh air. Not only am I assured that I will learn from the content he gives us but I am also assured that I will have fun and not be tense or worried as I contribute to discussions in class,” Beryl Oywer said.
I first met Mr. Musyimi in 2010 when I took Strategies in Communication during the May semester. Mr. Musyimi’s class was one I looked forward to attending. The passion he exhibited through the deeply explained examples of true real life experiences led to my admiration of his work. The devotions he gave with the evident desire to reach the needs of us students led to me being curious of the source of his drive.
I requested a slot in Mr. Musyimi’s busy schedule last week and was granted an interview on a Tuesday afternoon in Valley road Campus. As always, sharply dressed, Mr. Musyimi was in a white coat, black trousers and white shirt. “You are here already?” He asked smiling when I bumped into him outside the Valley Road Campus canteen. His humility doesn’t go unnoticed as he gives me full attention right after he runs a small errand at the finance office and leads me to the relaxed faculty lounge where he would share with me his life journey.
Born in a family of four Mr. Musyimi was raised through hardship in the rural area. With both parents not working and his elder brother not educated he was the hope of the family. He chuckles in between his narration as he explains to me of his desperate education experience.
“It was a struggle. I had to walk ten kilometers to school, bare feet. Classes started at 7 O ‘clock in the morning but we always had to wake up to do our chores before school. I don’t remember ever doing homework. In fact, I did not know people are supposed to read at home until one day when I heard my fellow student panic before an exam because he did not read the previous night. It was impossible to read. I ran back home after school to farm until night time when we lit many small twigs tied together as a source of light, not to read but to continue farming.”
A picture of Mr. Mutinda Musyimi
Mr. Musyimi who had no mentor until later in life in his life confidently confesses that he passed his primary school exams by the grace of God. I read no expected sign of sadness or remorse in his eyes or voice as he tells the story. This to me screamed how his rough experience is more of a positive influence in his life than an excuse for failure or source of pity.
In 1982 Mr. Musyimi joined a private Christian missionary school where he studied till 1985.
“I found my way to AIC Kyome Boys and I personally sought for admission in the school. The principal, after an interview admitted me to the school. Payment for fees in Form one and two was hard but I applied for a work scholarship at the school and I earned my fees. Pocket money was a foreign term to me. I could only afford a pen, the smallest tube of toothpaste and a piece of soap to go to school with. ”
After high school Mr. Musyimi worked as an untrained teacher and then studied for a B.A in Theology in Scott University, Machakos. He describes this opportunity as a result of Gods’ faithfulness as his high school principal gave him a cheque that paid for his ‘A’ Level. “This was rare to get,” he said.
Married to one wife and blessed with three sons, Mr. Musyimi now holds a master in Corporate Communication which he studied for in Daystar University, an institution he started working for as a part time lecturer in 2004.
“I am who I am today because of the kind of experiences that I went through, because of people who saw my need and chose to help me. I want to do the same and help as many individuals to get educated.” Mr. Musyimi believes that through school, lives are transformed and scholars get to experience other things in life that they would not have been exposed to. He has helped several individuals to get a basis of education that would help them be at a level of helping themselves.
Mr. Musyimi’s strong influence is clearly not only felt in Daystar University. He is a senior Pastor at AIC Jericho Nairobi. He counsels individuals who are faced with different challenges in life. “I believe I was called by God in 1985 while I was in form four at Kyome Boys to be a minister and share Gods word with people,” he said. This reminded me of the time that I was in his class in May 2010 and he allowed us to contact him if he had any troubling issues and needed someone to talk to, assuring us of confidentiality. He however humbly confessed that counseling is not the easiest of duties.
“It is only through the grace of God that I am able to handle my counselee’s troubles and at the same time address my own,” he said with a sigh. He recalls times in his youth when he craved to talk to someone but the isolation in his community would not allow him to. He recognizes how today’s society is quite similar and says that his desire and calling is to help those he can.
My curiosity is satisfied at this point of the interview. I get to understand why Mr. Musyimi is so passionate about his work. I understand why he is a blessed individual having gotten through the hardships of life. An admirable man he is as he is now studying Development Studies at the University of Fort Hare. Seeing lives transformed is his greatest satisfaction. He dreams to own a charitable organization to help needy children so that he can transform their lives. (1097)
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