A Kenyan student in Washington DC, US, has been honoured for her exemplary academic performance.

Ms Vanessa Oyugi was selected for an induction into the 54th class of the Howard University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Oyugi, who graduated with Grade 3.9 — the highest in the political science department — has been admitted for an MA degree course in the same discipline at the university.

Venessa, the only Kenyan to be selected for the induction, is the daughter of Prof Akongo Oyugi.

Oyugi is a political economy lecturer at Kenyatta University.

Her invitation says if she accepts membership, she will join a famous community dating back to 1776.

Among the founders were John Heath, the first president, and William Short, who was active in the society’s plan to expand by granting charters at other colleges (and who later became former US president Thomas Jefferson’s secretary).

Phi Beta Kappa promotes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. The society fulfills this mission by honouring outstanding college students and supporting advocacy programmes to spread the message about the benefits of liberal education.

Howard University is one of the leading American universities.