Daystar is a Community, not a Competition!

Buke is a young woman originally from Marsabit, a dry area in northern Kenya. Her family moved around a bit as her father was in the Kenya Air Force. They settled in a northeastern suburb of Nairobi. As any Kenyan will tell you, they have a deep value in taking care of extended family, so when Buke’s aunt and uncle passed, her father took in Buke’s three cousins. She remained the oldest of the five, and her parents secured a good high school education for her. However, her father suffered a stroke which made covering university fees challenging, especially with four other children to see through high school. Buke’s father paid her entrance fees to Daystar with the understanding that she was on her own for the rest of her tuition.

She was accepted to several universities, so Buke had a choice. But she had a friend at the law school in Daystar who encouraged her to come to Daystar. “My friend told me how interactive and involved the lecturers were, and that everyone was so friendly here. I wasn’t an extrovert, but it was easy to make friends from the first day.” Her friend talked about the humility of the staff and faculty. She wanted to excel academically, but she was also attracted to the Christ-centered education she would receive. “Daystar is a community, not a competition.” She feels that being at Daystar has helped her to grow spiritually, and as a person as she pursues her academic career. “Daystar really opened me up.” 

Buke feels right at home and has really blossomed as a student. She is passionate about justice. The practical aspect of her internship was so helpful for understanding her career path. She did her senior project related to privacy in the social health care system of Kenya under the East African Court of Justice. The year before, she participated in the Moot Court Competition among universities and helped bring her team to the winning spot representing Daystar!

Once she graduates with her bachelor degree, Buke would like to pursue a master’s degree in law and maybe one day teach at Daystar. She’s looking even further down the line to perhaps becoming a judge at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. While Buke might like to sing in a choir or play the violin, these side pursuits can wait, she remains focused on justice. Right now, she faces two years in a master’s degree program and about a year and a half at the Kenyan School of Law for an advocates training course. Her faith will have to take her on the next step.

Buke concluded, “I felt I had a passion for humanity and wanted to play a role in creating fairer systems. I’ve always been bothered by how corruption and injustice can hold people back, and studying law felt like a way to challenge that – to actually represent fairness, accountability, and integrity." Speaking of the future Buke said, "I also hope to mentor young law students, especially those from marginalized regions like Marsabit, to remind them that no dream is too big when anchored in faith and discipline."