Laughter echoed across the room as graduating students recalled four years of sleepless nights, demanding research projects and friendships that had become family. For one evening, deadlines gave way to celebration as the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS) undergraduate Class of 2026 gathered with faculty, alumni and staff for their Graduation Gala, a farewell before crossing the graduation stage on 14th August 2026.
The evening was more than a farewell celebration. It was a moment to reflect on four years of challenge and growth before stepping into a new chapter. That sentiment was captured perfectly when Dr. Caroline Kariuki, Senior Lecturer, Head of Economics at SIMS, addressed the graduating class.
“Dear Class of 2026,” began Dr. Kariuki. “So much hard work and determination has brought you to this point in your life. What was once just a dream is now a dream come true,”. Her words echoed the conversations already unfolding around the room. The road to graduation had not been easy. There had been challenging assignments, countless hours spent preparing for presentations and research projects, moments of self-doubt and the occasional sleepless night. Yet, through every sharp turn and steep hill, the class had persevered. “You should be so proud of that,” she told them.
If Dr. Kariuki’s message was a celebration of how far the class had come, Dr. Godfrey Madigu, the Dean of the Institute, invited them to relive the journey itself. “Was it a great four years?” he asked. An enthusiastic chorus of “Yes!” filled the room. He invited students to share what they would remember most. One spoke about the friendships that had shaped their university experience. Another reflected on surviving the infamous research project, a comment that drew knowing laughter from classmates who understood exactly what it had taken to reach this point. Then, with a smile, Dr. Madigu turned the conversation around. “I’m wondering why you’re not asking me what my best memory of you is.” The room laughed.
His answer, true to the spirit of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, wasn’t sentimental. It was statistical. Since the first undergraduate class graduated in 2015, the Institute has tracked the graduation rate of every cohort. The Class of 2026, he revealed, had achieved a 67 per cent graduation rate, the second-highest in the programme’s history, just two percentage points shy of the record set a decade earlier.
“You have been a great class,” he said, as applause broke out across the room. But for Dr. Madigu, the numbers were only part of the story. The true measure of the Class of 2026, he said, would be seen in the years ahead, in how they supported one another, created opportunities for fellow alumni and carried the Strathmore name into their professions.
If the faculty celebrated how far the class had come, the alumni challenged them to think about where they were going next. Ms. Beryl Amatta, a member of the pioneer Class of 2015, encouraged the graduates to cherish the friendships they had built over the past four years. While careers often take unexpected turns, she said, those friendships would become some of their greatest personal and professional assets. She challenged the class to reflect not only on their achievements but also on the lessons, setbacks and growth that had shaped them, reminding them to approach their careers with courage, financial discipline and openness to opportunities they may never have imagined.
Mr. Vincent Nyarango offered a refreshing dose of honesty. Despite graduating with impressive credentials, he shared, finding his first job took six months. It was a period that tested his confidence but ultimately taught him resilience, patience and the value of leaning on the people around him. He encouraged the graduates to see artificial intelligence not as competition but as a tool that will increasingly define the modern workplace, urging them to remain adaptable and committed to lifelong learning.
For Ms. Matilda Bosire, the transition into the corporate world is about far more than technical knowledge. Success, she explained, is built on communication, reliability, teamwork and a willingness to keep learning. Above all, she encouraged the graduates to hold firmly to their integrity, even when navigating difficult workplaces.
The evening also looked beyond the graduating class. Faculty shared how SIMS continues to evolve, introducing the new Master of Science in Economics programme, enhancing the Financial Engineering curriculum with emerging fields such as fintech and algorithmic trading, and strengthening collaborations across the University.
As the evening drew to a close, Dr. Kariuki returned to a message that had quietly echoed throughout every speech: graduation is not goodbye. She invited the graduates to return to SIMS as mentors, just as the alumni had done for them that evening. She encouraged them to remain connected with their lecturers, share their CVs with the administration and never hesitate to seek guidance when life presents new challenges. “Don’t ever feel like you have to walk alone,” she said. “We’re here for you.”
The message lingered as the gala drew to an end. Conversations lingered a little longer than usual. Phones came out for one last group photo. Friends embraced, lecturers exchanged congratulations and plans were already being made for graduation day. Four years earlier, the Class of 2026 had arrived at Strathmore as strangers carrying ambitions and uncertainty. They left the gala as graduates, equipped with knowledge, strengthened by resilience and surrounded by a community that will continue to cheer them on long after they leave campus.
The next chapter, as every speaker reminded them, is now theirs to write.
Congratulations Class of 2026!
Article written by Maitethia Doreen, Communications Administrator, Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
