"Let your light shine before men," Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 5:16, and as disciples on campus there is no greater way to do that than to excel academically. Denish Ochiel, Sam Otieno and Nick Ogutu have all let their lights shine in a great way at Kenyatta University (K.U.) and beyond.

James, Sam, Denish, Benjamin, Nick

The three of them majored in the demanding course of Biochemistry at K.U. and in their first two years on campus did Botany-Zoology as well. Out of over ninety students in the Faculty of Science at K.U., only 15 got the grade of upper second class (no first class classifications were awarded), and three of those twelve were Denish, Sam and Nick, who graduated on the 19th of October 2001.

Denish was the first of the three to get baptized. He studied the Bible with the singles ministry while out of campus due to forced closure following violent riots at K.U.. He, Sam and Nick had long been very close friends and so as soon as Denish got baptized, on October 18th 2000, he invited Sam and Sam started studying the Bible and attending the activities of the campus ministry.

Cautious at first, it was not until after Kenyatta University reopened that Sam finally made the breakthrough in his personal struggle with the Scriptures and was baptized on the 2nd of February 2001. With the help of leaders in the campus ministry, Sam and Denish went about helping Nick to become a disciple and he soon became very much a part of the ministry at K.U. A decision was a while in coming, but eventually, a week after completing his final-year examinations, Nick too was baptized into Christ.

God has forged a great friendship between these three focussed and ambitious men since they first met as freshmen at K.U. In their four years on campus together they were able to influence each other in great ways both academically and spiritually. "We would study as a group," Nick says, "and did much together." They plotted a course that they hoped and believed would end in academic distinction, career success and personal satisfaction. God had his plans for them as well, though, and not only have they each become disciples, but they helped each other to get there and continue to support each other spiritually now that they have graduated.

When your light shines, said Jesus in Matthew 5, men will "see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven", and indeed these brothers have not only excelled in school but have, through their example and convictions, helped others become Christians. Millicent Otina and Susan Muyela both were baptized at K.U. as a result of Denish’s efforts, and Sam has also been fruitful with one of his colleagues at his first place of work after leaving campus. Nick’s cousin, Benjamin Okoth, graduated from Egerton University in November 2001 with an upper second class degree in information technology, and just one month earlier helped his elder brother, James, get baptized into Christ.

Their friendship is still strong and their dreams continue. "There are people in the church we want to emulate," says Denish, "particularly leaders who have had a great impact in our lives." Sam says that they would love to study further and then use their qualifications and opportunities to help the kingdom, and if possible, even join the full-time ministry. Together they also look forward to one day being in each other’s weddings. As their lives shine brightly before men, may God use them to continue to teach others to praise him.