MKU Lecturer Who Prayed For Baby In Class Says Mum Of 3 Didn't Have Money For Caretaker

• Benard Gechiko Nyabwari, a Philosophy and Religious Studies lecturer at Mount Kenya University, shared that his student brought a baby to class because she didn't have a nanny
• According to Nyabwari, Kanyaru G Annecy, who is from Tharaka Nithi, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a mum of three who had left some in the care of her husband at home
• Nyabwari, who has taught for 15 years, said that he understood the struggles of studying parents and society should help them excel so that they can make something out of their lives

Dr Bernard Gechiko Nyabwari, a Philosophy and Religious Studies lecturer at Mount Kenya University, has shared that the lady who brought a baby to his class did not have a nanny.

Does MKU offer distance learning?

On August 19, Nyabwari was captured praying for and blessing Kanyaru G Annecy's baby during a class with over 300 students, and the video warmed many hearts.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Nyabwari said that the class was held during the holiday in the Distance and Institution-Based Electronic Learning (DIBeL) program.

The program is a blended mode of learning in which learners study online and interact face-to-face with lecturers during school holidays.

"In the lecture hall, I had physical classes with about 300 students. Among them was a student who had decided to attend my class with her eight-month-old baby, Gacindi, because she did not have money to pay the caretaker.

"She sat in front of the class with baby Gacindi, who was asleep before I entered the class. Because of the size of the class, I had to introduce the lesson in a loud voice - little did I know that I would wake up the sleeping angel. My voice woke up the baby from her deep sleep and she started crying," explained Nyabwari.

Why did Nyabwari pray for baby Gacindi?

When the startled baby started crying, Annecy felt guilty and started fearing what action the lecturer would take against her for coming to class with a little child.

"All students kept silent, thinking that I would be annoyed with the mother and maybe send her out of the class. I knew that was the moment to show everyone in class that I am a human being and I care for the weak and vulnerable who struggle to make ends meet," he said.

"To break the silence, I said '…and Jesus said, let them multiply…' all students broke into laughter, and that restored the class mood. I looked at the student mother and the child as a lecturer with more than fifteen years of experience; I knew the struggle and challenges student mothers like Annecy undergo to get a university education. I was quickly moved to take baby Gacindi into my hands to bless her and her parents in the lecture hall," he added.

Nyabwari said that, in his heart, he knew God would hear their prayer to comfort, provide for, and care for the baby and the parents, who were struggling to provide for the child and pay school fees and other bills.

Annecy studies Bachelor of Arts

"I learnt later that Annecy from Tharaka Nithi county is blessed with three other children whom she had left at home with her beloved husband. She came from Tharaka Nithi County to search for a Bachelor of Education Arts Degree at Mount Kenya University," said Nyabwari.

"As I took baby Gacindi into my hands and started praying, students took their phones to take video. I could imagine that the video would go viral the next minute. The mother of the child was as well happy to realise that prayers and blessings for her child went viral. My colleagues in the university were similarly happy with the prayers and blessings for the child," he added.

The theology lecturer was very categorical that his actions were also hinged on the word of God.

"Jesus said, 'let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'. Prayer is the only key to success; I always advise my students to lead a prayerful life. In most of my lectures, I normally start with prayers, and my students love that," he said.

"I love holding children in my hands or laying my hands on their heads (the children who are bigger) while praying for them (I was taught and ordained to do that in my church). To be honest, children in the hands of parents who are students face a lot of challenges. I strongly believe that through such prayers the children will win the favour of God," he added.

Nyabwari says studying mums need support

The MKU lecturer also opined that children are gifts from God no matter how or when they come into our lives. The blessings of children, whether in marriage, out of marriage, in poverty or in strains of life, should not stop ladies from achieving their dreams.

"Young mothers who drop out of school because of parenting should be encouraged to continue with school at whatever age or stage. Mothers who have the passion to continue with education should not be stopped because of parenting responsibilities," said Nyabwari.

"Teachers, lecturers, tutors and society should be kind and tolerant to them. Universities and colleges should offer special treatment to those who decide to come back to school to achieve their dreams, which were disturbed by the coming of the blessing," he added.

Machakos University lecturer carries student's baby

In another story, lecturer Ruth Mburu came to the rescue of a student who came to class to write her exam by carrying her baby and allowing her to work peacefully.

Mburu, a lecturer at Machakos University, impressed many people with her compassion.

Some said she is passionate about family and education.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Benard Gechiko Nyabwari and the next frame shows Annecy and her baby Gacindi.

Annecy with her dear husband.

Kind Lecturer Carries Little Baby so that Mom Could Focus in Class