By the time Brian Okinyi Ogutu was seven years old, he had already lost both of his parents—each in consecutive years, one grief compounding the other before the first had fully settled. He was the last-born of seven children. His eldest brother, who had just completed his KCSE exams, suddenly found himself the head of a household that included a seven-year-old boy with nowhere certain to go. By any measure, it was near impossible.

Then Gethsemane came through.

What followed is the story of what happens when an institution truly believes in a child—and what that child can become when given a foundation to stand on. The vision of Naphtali Mattah and Nereah Mattah, and the community they built at Gethsemane Christian Centre, did not just educate Brian. It gave him life—in more ways than one.

Starting Last, Finishing First

Brian joined Gethsemane Christian Centre in Class 3 at eight years old. He had been a reasonably good student at his previous school in Misori, but Gethsemane operated at a completely different level. On his first exams, Brian came last in his class. He barely understood English. The gap between where he was and where the school expected him to be felt overwhelming.

What changed everything was a Mathematics teacher who refused to give up on him.

Patient in a way Brian still speaks about with visible emotion decades later, this teacher met him where he was. Something clicked. Mathematics went from being a subject he struggled with to one he fully understood—a language in which he was, it turned out, nearly fluent. By the third term of that very first year, he was consistently scoring 100%. By year-end, he had risen to second overall in his class and taken first place in the mid-term exams.

He had gone from last to first in less than a year.

A Life Saved

Less than a year into his time at Gethsemane, Brian was diagnosed with anemia. He was terrified—a young orphan, already carrying more than most children should, now facing what felt like a mortal threat.

One of the house parents, Madam Betty Mbita, donated her blood to save his life.

Brian still speaks of this with quiet gratitude. It was not just a medical act—it was a declaration: this child matters. His life has value. We will fight for it.

The Making of a Scholar

As his love for Mathematics deepened, so did his appetite for science. The two were inseparable—logic and the physical world, elegantly intertwined. He became known throughout the school, and eventually across the Mbita Suba district, as the student who excelled in these subjects.

In one remarkable moment, while still in Class 7, Brian sat the Class 8 candidate exams and scored 100% in Mathematics and 94% in Science, with an aggregate of approximately 430 marks. The Executive Director, who had long believed Brian was exceptional, often referenced him in speeches. Brian absorbed every word of encouragement.

“A poor orphan, without proper schooling and no motivation, is a recipe for disaster. I couldn’t have become who I am if Gethsemane hadn’t happened. I didn’t even qualify to be there—I just got lucky. But then they made the most of that luck.”

By Class 8, his consistent performance floor was 425 out of 500 marks. Then came his KCPE.

He scored 391.

The Motorbike That Changed Everything

Brian received a calling letter to Maranda High School—one of the best in the country—but he could not afford it. During the holidays, he crossed paths with former classmates attending prestigious national schools like Alliance and Maranda, and each encounter deepened his sense of loss.

He was so discouraged that when Gethsemane Academy opened its own high school, he didn’t show up.

Then the principal, Mr. Ken Fungo, rode a motorbike to Brian’s home, put him on the back, and took him to school himself.

When Brian arrived, he found everything prepared—shopping had been done, pocket money was waiting, and a place had been secured for him. Through high school and into university, Gethsemane continued to invest in him. He belonged, whether he believed it yet or not.

Rewriting the Story

Brian entered high school with one resolve: he would never let English rewrite his story again.

In Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Geography, he excelled—not just within the school, but across regional mock exams. He held the top position for all four years, often outperforming the second-ranked student by more than 100 marks.

The school introduced Academic Tea and an Academic Badge for top performers. Brian earned that badge so consistently it ceased to feel competitive—it simply belonged to him. When concerns were raised about his academic exemptions from manual labor, the school created a new role: Academic Prefect. Brian became the first to hold it.

One memory stood apart from the rest—his first flight. A school trip to Nairobi introduced him to a world he had never imagined. Something shifted. The world became larger—and more possible.

At KCSE, Brian was the top student in his year. He missed an overall A by just three points—once again due to English. Medicine required a perfect score at the time, and he fell just short. He was placed in Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping at JKUAT—a course he had never heard of and had no interest in.

The Professor Who Listened

The Executive Director connected Brian with Professor Garrey, a leader in Civil Engineering at JKUAT. After hearing Brian’s story, he offered simple but pivotal advice: switch to Mathematics and Computer Science.

It was exactly right.

Brian specialized in Pure Mathematics and quickly distinguished himself. In some Mathematical Analysis units, he scored perfectly while others struggled to reach even a fraction of the marks. He spent countless hours in the library, driven by the understanding of what was at stake.

He graduated with First Class Honors—the first person in his family to earn a university degree.

When exams ended, he had only 200 shillings—barely enough to get home. He called his former teacher, Mr. Collins Orwa, who supported him once again. Brian stayed, applied for jobs, and prepared for interviews.

Healthix called. They hired him. Within months, he was one of their lead software engineers.

From Andela to Microsoft

Brian later earned a scholarship for a Master’s in Mathematics but turned it down to pursue Andela, one of Africa’s most competitive engineering fellowships.

He got in.

After a company shift led to layoffs, his team lead quickly connected him to Aerotage, a U.S.-based aerospace company. He secured the role and became a team lead within a month. When COVID impacted the industry, he adapted—working across multiple U.S. companies and building experience.

Then, on February 4, 2021, Brian joined Microsoft as a Software Engineer.

He quickly became known for identifying high-impact work. One of his projects generated over a billion dollars in revenue for the company, accelerating his rise through the ranks. Promotions came almost annually.

Today, he serves as a Staff Software Engineer, continuing to lead and build at the highest levels.

Giving Back

Brian has never forgotten where he came from.

He supports his brother’s children, ensuring they receive the education he once fought for. He has mentored and supported other students, including Rose Kimu, now pursuing her Master’s at Carnegie Mellon, and Samuel, studying Actuarial Science.

He is committed to creating academic awards at Gethsemane—a reflection of the encouragement that once shaped him.

The Gift That Outlasts All Others

Brian received many things from Gethsemane: education, opportunity, resilience, and unwavering belief. But above all, he received faith.

It was there he first understood a personal relationship with God—not as ritual, but as something real and sustaining. That foundation has shaped everything since.

His wife, Josephine Ogot, is also a Gethsemane alumna—the top girl in her class and known for her strength in English. There’s a small irony Brian shares with a smile: she once gave him a poem to study. He ignored it. It appeared on the exam.

Today, they are married with two children—Novah and Tarah—and that moment has become part of their story.

Brian Okinyi Ogutu.
Last in class.
Gethsemane alumnus.
First Class Honors.
Staff Software Engineer.
Husband. Father.

The boy Madam Betty gave her blood for.
The boy Mr. Fungo came to collect on a motorbike.

This is what Gethsemane does.