Meet Mohamed Nyatta, Boni community's first university graduate

The Boni minority community, also identified as the Aweer living in Lamu’s Boni Forest, are known to be a forest community that has been leading an age-old lifestyle.

In the 21st Century, the Bonis are still known traditionally as hunters and gatherers.

They also harvest wild honey in the dense Boni Forest for their livelihood.

They live in at least 10 villages situated within the dense Boni Forest.

They include Pandanguo, Jima, Bar’goni, and Mswakini in Lamu West.

Others are Milimani, Basuba, Mangai, Mararani, Kiangwe, Madina, and Bodhei, all in Lamu East Sub-County.

Despite being an ancient community, a few of the Bonis have resorted to embracing education to relieve themselves from poverty as well as taking a step towards development and modernity.

One such individual is Mohamed Nyatta Junior.

Nyatta is the first Aweer (Boni) male native from Lamu County to have attained a university degree.

Due to the decades-old forest life and culture that the Boni community has been leading, it has not been easy for those yearning for an education to access it.

For Nyatta, however, his zeal and determination to pursue education resulted in him using all possible means, provided he succeeded no matter what.

Born and raised in the remote village of Bar’goni in Lamu West, Nyatta accredits God, discipline, hard work, and perseverance as the key pillars behind his success.

It is worth noting that Bar’goni borders the expansive Boni Forest.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Nyatta admitted that it was not an easy journey to reach that far education-wise.

Nyatta's inspiring journey began when he attended Mokowe Arid Zone Primary School in Lamu West in 1997, a distance of about 30 kilometres from his rural home.

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Mokowe Arid Zone School was established in 1992 to accommodate pupils from disadvantaged communities like the Boni, Sanye, and Orma.

Nyatta is among the pioneer beneficiaries.

After sitting his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and passing, he joined Ganze secondary school in Kilifi County where he did his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2009.

He later joined the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) where he studied and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication (Second-Class Honours-Upper Division) in 2015.

 

Nyatta’s zeal for life successes made him not stay idle at home to wait for formal employment after completing his university studies in 2015.

In 2016, just a year after graduation, Mr Nyatta went to the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo for initial police (9-months) basic training from 2016 to 2017.

“I did my Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication knowing very well that just after completing the studies, I would be employed in the major media houses in this country, maybe as a journalist, reporter, radio or television news anchor and presenter and so forth. That, however, did not happen,” said Nyatta.

Today, Nyatta is working as a police constable and is currently stationed at the Diani Police Station.

“I never thought of being a police officer. I think police work is a calling. I consider myself as someone who was called to serve the nation and I am doing it with a lot of zeal and hard work,” said Nyatta.

He adds, “But that doesn’t mean I have lost hope on matters of journalism and mass communication. I still hold on to the hope that one day, I will be somewhere doing media-related functions, either in the forces or even in the major media houses in Kenya and the world.”

Nyatta also remembers his late mother Mariam Babito Kololo, also a Boni native from Boni Forest in Lamu for her dedication to ensuring they access education.

“Sincerely speaking, she is the reason behind the modern lifestyle I am leading today. She prepared me for the big task ahead in this life as she planted values and virtues that to date live within me. May she rest in peace,” said Nyatta.

He also acknowledges the efforts of local administrators within Lamu, including Kassim Athman Hassan, alias Chief Apollo who gave him full support throughout his education journey and exposed him to the real world.

Touching on the education sector among the Boni community, Nyatta says much needs to be put in place.

“The dream is bigger for the Boni child as far as education is concerned. I believe the current generation of the Aweer/Boni is embracing education. This ought to bring change in the future. There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” said Nyatta.

As for him, he insists he still has a lot that he needs to achieve now that he is enlisted in the police service.

“Currently serving as a constable, I am confident one day I will rise to the ranks of inspector and more. I have always admired working in the National Intelligence Service. I would one day love to represent my community as much as I can,” said Nyatta.

Contacted, Basuba-Boni Forest Ward Administrator, Azani Ali Rufi confirmed that indeed, Mr Nyatta is the only Boni Community male individual who is the first to hold a Degree.

“It’s true. Nyatta is the only Boni male with a degree from Boni Forest so far. The other one is a lady, Asha Abdalla Kombo who did a Bachelor of Commerce, Procurement Option,” said Rufi.

Rufi called on the Boni community to leave their traditional lifestyles and instead, pursue education and embrace modernity for their good.

“It’s high time we come to terms that we pursue an education to enable us to bring change to our society. We thank both the county and national government for introducing special programs for the Boni people that have helped us realize the importance of education. Bursaries and education scholarships are targeting the Bonis from the devolved government,” said Rufi.

Lamu County Education Director, Zachary Mutuiri also affirmed that Nyatta is indeed among the very few Bonis to achieve higher learning.

“Most of the Boni natives that my office is aware of are those with Diplomas and Certificates. Possibly, Nyatta is the only one with a degree. But efforts are ongoing to have the Boni Forest education boosted in coming years,” said Mutuiri.

The 33-year-old Nyatta is the second born in a family of two.

He is married and a father of three.