Meet 50-year-old Cecilia Nambuya, gifted Form Three student

Cecilia Nambuya, a 50-year-old woman from Shauri Moyo, Nairobi frequently catches the attention of passersby.

If you go to Kimathi street within the city centre , you will find her seated on the concrete, drawing portraits.

From President Uhuru Kenyatta to Raila Odinga, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and even Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, the Form Three student displays her extraordinary talent for the world to see.

She is currently a form three student at St.Peters Clever Secondary School in Makueni that is sponsored by a religious organization.

“My favourite subjects are English, physics, Kiswahili, Mathematics and Business studies,” she says.

However, she was forced her to drop out as the school requires Ksh.4,000 per term, an amount she has been unable to raise.

She has been out of school for five months and depends on well wishers who either give her a few coins for food or buy some of her drawings.

Cecilia says she started selling her portraits in December 2018 and moves from street to street to showcase her talent.

She says that on few occasions, people have asked her to draw portraits of them and then they pay her a small sum of money.

Cecilia is hopeful that her artistic talent will help her raise money for her studies and upkeep.

The mother of five boys further narrates how poverty and homelessness stole her family from her.

She reveals how her children have to live in a children’s home because she cannot afford to cater for them.

Her biggest wish remains that of bringing her family together again.