The extraordinary tale of 39-year-old Kenneth Okoth, who had been orphaned being a boy that is young. And had it maybe perhaps not been for kind-hearted loved ones, he could be certain he would be destitute.

“I happened to be created in Homa Bay County in 1980 — i’m a firstborn in a household of three young ones. We had been bad, my moms and dads struggled to teach us and offer for the other requirements. My dad had been an electrician while my mom plaited locks for a full time income.

We all packed our belongings and moved to Nairobi, where my parents hoped to make a better living when I was in primary school. We got household, (an area become particular) in Dandora Phase Four and I also joined up with Tom Mboya main class, a hiking distance from our home.

Unfortuitously, the enhanced livelihood my moms and dads had been looking for didn’t materialise. If any such thing, life ended up being harder right here, therefore we all trooped back once again to the town.

My moms and dads had been nevertheless determined to teach me personally, and so they enrolled me personally during the Kamolo Primary that is nearby class. I happened to be in Class Two then.

In August 1995, right before We sat for my Kenya certification of main School examinations (KCPE), my mom passed away.

Her death spelt doom over my loved ones because she have been the breadwinner. I became devastated by her death, and my hope of joining additional college faded away.

Hard-hit by my mum’s death, I did not perform along with I’d anticipated, handling 380 marks from the feasible 700.

Fortunately, my aunts Abigael Akoko and also the belated Elizabeth Ouma, in addition to a relative, Charles Akal, paid my college charges at Dandora Secondary class in Nairobi.

Being truly a scholar, i lived with my aunt abigael, her husband and their son day. After college when you look at the night, we would help her to offer fish and do home work.

I endured down inside my school that is new to perform well during my studies and visit college.

Whilst in Form Three, I became appointed class prefect, as soon as i eventually got to Form Four, I became appointed mind chair and boy for the Science Club.

In August 1999, prior to We sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (KCSE), my dad died.

The same as my mother’s death, my father’s death disoriented me. My siblings and I also had been now orphans, forcing our family members to simply take us in.

We finished up being separated, coping with various family members. We finished senior high school, but to my dissatisfaction, handled grade C, meaning I could maybe perhaps not study medication, when I had hoped.

I became certain that this will be the finish of my training as well as the end of my dream that is long-held to the period of poverty during my family members.

Nevertheless, something compelled us to continue, to not call it quits.

We consequently desired work during the defunct Jack & Jill Supermarket, the supermarket that is popular ended up being situated near OTC in Nairobi’s central company region (CBD).

I happened to be employed being a packaging kid, making Sh200 each day, element of that I faithfully conserved for eight months, putting apart enough to spend initial college costs at Nairobi Technical Training Institute in Pangani, where I learned a certificate program in medical laboratory technology.

It aided that I became nevertheless coping with my aunt. I might work throughout the and attend classes in the evening day.

We continued saving, so when We finished the program couple of years later on, We joined up with Technical University of Kenya (TUK) for a diploma within the exact same program.

For this right time, i discovered another work at then-East Africa Industries (EAI), now Unilever East Africa — my task would be to pack Vaseline Jelly.

In 2006, We desired attachment at a medical center, healthcare Diagnostic Centre, found at Re-Insurance Plaza in Nairobi’s CBD.

My employer, the belated Hannington Pamba, will need to have noticed my intense want to discover under his wing and me personallyntored me because he took me personally.

A 12 months later on, he invited me personally to join their NGO, Global Friends of Children Healthcare Organisation (IFCHO), that has been found near Adams Arcade, on Ngong path.