Another achievement of the Keriko Mixed Day students was an award from the Royal Society of Chemistry with their project that is able to generate electricity from plants. This invention qualified for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair last year.
All these awards and feats become even more impressive when you realize that the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School only has one computer for the whole school, with very limited internet access.
For most of the students that come from poor households that barely get enough food to eat, who live in a community with high drug use, crime, teen pregnancies and suicide, Tabichi’s hard word has literally been life-changing to his pupils future. Because of the professors passion and inspiration, the number of pupils that have continued on to studying university has significantly increased.
Apart from the success they gained in the field of Science, Tabichi, who is also a Franciscan brother started the Peace Club at school. This helped integrate students who come from seven different tribes all together in a common program for prayer and worship, while embracing all the different religions of each tribe.
While Tabichi already donates 80 percent of his salary to his school and local community projects, what he will do with his $1 million prize money is still unclear, but it will definitely involve furthering the education of his town.
“Seeing my learners grow in knowledge, skills and confidence is my greatest joy in teaching,” says Tabichi. “When they become resilient, creative and productive in the society, I get a lot of satisfaction, for I act as their greatest destiny enabler and key that unlocks their potential in the most exciting manner.”
When he was awarded the prize, Tabichi shared that his experience showed him that “Africa’s young people will no longer be held back by low expectations”.
“Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story,” he said – referencing the fact that the secondary school’s female students are now outperforming the boys at exams.
Kenya’s president, Uruhu Kenyatta gave Tabichi a message of congratulations saying:
“You are a shining example of what the human spirit can achieve. Not just for Kenya. Not just for Africa. But for the world.”
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