Celebrated Kenyan Teacher Peter Tabichi Meets Trump at the White House, to Address UN Assembly

United States President Donald Trump on Monday met Peter Tabichi, the Kenyan teacher who won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.

Tabichi, who gives away 80 percent of his salary to needy students, was hosted by Trump at the White House where he was lauded for his selflessness.
 
“His dedication, hard work, and belief in his student’s talent have led his poorly resourced school in Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions. Peter, you inspire us all! Thank you for your commitment to your students,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

Tabichi, who is also Catholic Brother, is in the US to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he will speak about how he managed to excel as a teacher in a community where poverty is widespread.

His students have represented Kenya at global competitions and even won the UN Sustainable Development Goal Award in May.

Tabichi, 36, became the first teacher from Africa to win the prestigious award and attributes his success to his father, a retired teacher.

“His dedication to the community convinced me that teaching was the most important job I could do,” Tabichi said.

The Mathematics and Science teacher at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru won the Varkey Foundation $1 million Global Teacher Prize in March this year.

Tabichi is a member of the Franciscan religious order, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi.