He claims a cousin, who had promised to sponsor his education, abandoned him and relocated to the United States, leaving him without support.
Ekene’s plight was highlighted in a video shared by Nairobi County official Geoffrey Mosiria, where he described living on the streets without a steady income or a permanent place to stay.
He survives by taking on casual jobs and sometimes sleeps on verandas, using a sack of clothes as a makeshift pillow.
He had traveled to Kenya with aspirations of pursuing a master’s degree at Pan African University, relying on his cousin—who had been in the country for several years—to fund his studies. However, his plans fell apart.
“I came to pursue my master’s, but my sponsor married an American woman and moved abroad. He promised to support me after enrolling me in school, but he never did. I suspect the funds meant for my education were used for his trip to the U.S.,” Ekene explained.
With no financial support, Ekene quickly became homeless, unable to pay rent or continue school. His situation was further complicated when his passport expired, preventing him from returning to Nigeria.
Mosiria revealed he tried to assist by arranging a temporary hotel stay and referring Ekene to a rehabilitation centre for mental health evaluation, but Ekene reportedly left before the process could be completed.
Now, Ekene is appealing to well-wishers and authorities for help in renewing his passport and raising funds for a flight back to Nigeria.
He believes returning home would offer an opportunity to rebuild his life after the extremely challenging period he has endured in Kenya.
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