A Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) graduate moved hearts across social media on Thursday, October 29, 2026, when she honoured the vegetable vendor who helped raise her by letting her wear the graduation gown on her big day.
Sharonane Bokeh shared the emotional moment on Facebook, revealing that her mama mboga, Rachel Gechichi, had been far more than just a trader in her life.
According to Sharonane, Rachel had been a consistent presence through her years of study, showing up for her the way a parent would.
“She’s been a great parent to me; she was always there for me,” Sharonane wrote in her Facebook post, adding a prayer that Rachel would never lack.
Rachel beaming in the graduation gown
In photographs shared alongside the post, Rachel is seen beaming in the graduation gown, her joy unmistakable.
The gesture transformed what is often a personal milestone into a shared celebration, with the graduate choosing to shine a light on the woman who had quietly supported her journey.
Sharonane also turned to her fellow students for help, asking JOOUST comrades to support Rachel’s small business.
Sharonane’s plea to JOOUST comrades
“Promote her; she is kind with a good heart,” she urged, rallying the university community around the woman who had given so much without expecting anything in return.
Mama mboga traders are a cornerstone of everyday life across Kenya, selling fresh vegetables in neighbourhoods and estates at affordable prices.
For many students from humble backgrounds, these women become familiar, dependable faces, and sometimes, as in Sharonane’s case, something closer to family.
Rachel’s role in Sharonane’s life
The tribute resonated widely because it spoke to a relationship that rarely gets public recognition: the quiet generosity of ordinary people who pour into others without fanfare.
Rachel’s role in Sharonane’s life was not one of grand gestures, but of steady, reliable presence, and the graduation moment gave that dedication its due.
May God bless her, Sharonane wrote, signing off her post with a prayer as sincere as the gown she placed on Rachel’s shoulders.
