What was supposed to be a proud graduation celebration reportedly turned into a heartbreaking scene for one family after a Rongo University student allegedly showed up at the ceremony in a borrowed graduation gown—despite her name not appearing on the official graduation list.
Mercy Chelang’at arrived at the highly anticipated ceremony dressed like a graduate, with her family having traveled from Kericho expecting to watch her walk across the stage and celebrate a major milestone in her life.
But according to accounts from witnesses and people familiar with the incident, there was one major problem: her name was reportedly missing from the official graduation list.
The situation, witnesses claimed, was linked to outstanding academic and administrative requirements. Chelang’at had reportedly accumulated fee arrears of nearly KSh80,000 and had also missed some examinations, circumstances that allegedly prevented her from completing the requirements needed to graduate that day.
For her family, however, the truth was reportedly unknown.
Relatives had made the journey from Kericho, setting aside their time and making preparations to witness what they believed would be an unforgettable family achievement.
But when her name could not be found among the graduating students, the celebration reportedly began to unravel.
The borrowed gown
According to witnesses, Chelang’at allegedly decided to attend the ceremony anyway.
Accounts circulating about the incident claim that on the night before graduation, she attended a photoshoot with fellow students and allegedly took her coursemate Brian’s graduation gown.
What followed reportedly raised suspicion.
Brian allegedly realized that his gown was missing and began searching for it. His search reportedly continued late into the night, with witnesses claiming he was still looking for the gown at around 3 a.m.
The following day, his search allegedly came to an unexpected end.
Brian reportedly spotted Chelang’at at the graduation venue while she was with her relatives—and allegedly realized that she was wearing the missing gown.
He is said to have approached the family and pointed them to the official graduation booklet, showing that Chelang’at’s name was not among those scheduled to graduate.
A celebration turns into shock
The revelation reportedly left the family devastated.
What had begun as a day of pride and celebration suddenly became an uncomfortable confrontation, with relatives allegedly struggling to process what they were being told.
According to people who witnessed the incident, Chelang’at’s sister was so overwhelmed by the revelation that she reportedly dropped to her knees in disbelief.
The family eventually left the venue, with the anticipated graduation celebrations replaced by silence and disappointment.
The incident has since sparked conversations about the immense pressure students can face when academic setbacks collide with family expectations.
For the family, what they had traveled from Kericho to witness as a proud graduation milestone reportedly ended in a moment they will not easily forget.
The claims surrounding the incident remain allegations based on witness accounts, and the circumstances would require confirmation from the student and Rongo University before being treated as established fact.
