From the Slums to the Halls of Justice
By ESTHER MUMO, Wezesha Class of 2025
“Books became my escape from the reality of poverty and my doorway into imagining a life beyond Mukuru.”
Growing Up in Mukuru kwa Reuben, Like every other day, Monday always began before sunrise.
In Mukuru kwa Reuben, Monday mornings carried a mixture of chaos and survival. I would wake up to the sound of neighbors arguing over water jerricans, the sizzle of mandazi frying by the roadside, and the choking smell of smoke from makeshift stoves. Our single-room home barely fit my family, and mornings were a blur of squeezing past each other, searching for schoolbooks, and hoping to leave before the dusty footpaths became crowded.
Most mornings, I left for school on an empty stomach. My uniform had often been washed the night before and hung to dry near a smoky fire, leaving it stiff and faintly smelling of paraffin. Shoes were a luxury. Every day, I navigated open sewers and dodged speeding boda bodas on narrow pathways.
Yet even amidst these challenges, there was life. The walk to Gatoto Community School was filled with chatter, neighbors greeting one another, the scent of frying chapati, and children carrying containers of porridge to sip along the way.
At school, life was no easier. Our classrooms were overcrowded, with three or four students squeezed onto broken desks. The blackboards were chipped, and chalk dust lingered in the air. Yet amidst the noise and scarcity, I found a strange kind of peace.
I loved learning.
Books became my escape from the reality of poverty and my doorway into imagining a life beyond Mukuru. Still, the pressure was real. Education felt like my only lifeline, but with many of my peers dropping out to become young parents or join their families in informal work, I often wondered whether my fate would be any different.
Evenings were the hardest. After school, I returned to the crowded slum where radios blared and children ran through muddy pathways. Homework became a battle against distraction. With no desk at home, I often sat on the floor, balancing books on my lap. As I listened to conversations about rent, unemployment, and survival, I silently prayed that one day my story would be different.
Every day felt like Monday.
And then came EFAC.
Esther at Vanessa Grant Girl's School.
The Call that Changed Everything
Honestly, I was as shocked as anyone when I landed the EFAC scholarship.
My father had already made peace with enrolling me in a day school near home. But my primary school headteacher God bless her stubborn heart refused to let me settle. She kept insisting there was still time to find me “a better option.”
I was at home when the call came.
My headteacher casually informed me that I had secured an EFAC scholarship. My brain took a full minute to process what I had just heard. Was I excited? Happy? Shocked? Honestly, I couldn't even label the feeling.
Everything after that was a blur.
Two days later, I found myself standing at the gates of Vanessa Grant Girls’ School.
I looked around and thought, “Wow, this is where the magic happens.”
It felt like being upgraded from economy class to first class without buying a ticket. One moment, I was preparing myself for a life of settling. The next, I was stepping into a world that demanded I dream bigger.
My scholarship journey began with a twist of luck, a dash of divine timing, and just enough sarcasm to keep me grounded.
Esther Mumo, 2nd right with fellow EFAC beneficiaries at a recent Wezesha workshop
Discovering a Bigger World
My best memories as an EFAC scholar will always take me back to the Bridge to Success (B2S) workshops.
I remember walking into those rooms and instantly feeling a sense of belonging, as though I was part of something bigger than myself. The workshops challenged me to think differently, dream boldly, and see possibilities I had never considered before.
Today, I am not only a proud EFAC graduate, but also a law graduate from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
My journey has included a judicial attachment at Milimani Commercial Court, an internship at Manthi Masika & Company Advocates, and completing my LLB research project evaluating Kenya’s taxation framework.
Each step has been shaped by the resilience, hope, courage, and determination that EFAC nurtured in me.
I am no longer the girl who almost settled.
I am a woman pursuing justice, building a career in law, and daring to dream beyond what I once believed was possible.
Esther and friends at Wezesha 2025 graduation
Writing My Own Story
When I look back at the young girl from Mukuru kwa Reuben who never imagined she would one day leave the slum, I feel immense gratitude and pride.
My journey is far from over.
But one thing is certain: EFAC did not simply change my story.
It taught me how to write the chapters myself.
And perhaps that is the greatest gift of all.