27-year-old Stephen Okoth Okumu is an undergraduate degree student at Mount Kenya University (MKU).
Interestingly, he finances his through his chicken selling business.
Having grown up in a humble background, Okumu who is the last born in a family of 10 noted that his future was uncertain due to financial constraints in his family.
This saw his siblings drop out of school due to among many other contributing factors lack of fees.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
In an interview with Nation, Okumu noted that his dad, Elly Ayieko, missed the chance to join Makerere University due to financial constraints.
However, for him, he wanted to change the script and get the education that his father was not able to access.
“I find encouragement in the Book of Jeremiah 29:11 which says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’
“I base all my thoughts, feelings and decisions on this verse. I am the last child in my family, and my parents gave birth to me when they were pretty advanced in age. My siblings underrated my potential but I always encouraged myself,” he said.
Okumu also explained that he is determined to get education because it broke his heart to watch his older siblings drop out of school.
“I’m the only one in my family who managed to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). All the others left school at primary level
“That I will be completing my degree in April and graduating in August is still a point of wonder for me. Truly, God is good, all the time,” he added.
He further explained that were it not for sponsorships, he could have not made it past high school.
“My journey has never been easy. To reach high school and sit my KCSE exams was a miracle. I studied in a missionary school in Mathare North where my fees and meals were taken care of by sponsors
“I had to walk from Kayole to Mathare every day, in whatever weather. It was not easy but I am glad I managed to see myself university,” Okumu added.
Following the completion of his secondary school education, her parents were not able to take him to university.
He moved out of his father’s house and rented a room in Huruma where he tried various businesses before settling on starting a chicken business.
Okumu used proceeds of his business to enroll for a university course.
“The business was doing well. After a year of operation, I enrolled for a diploma course in Human Resource Management at Mount Kenya University. I graduated in 2020, thanks to my high school teacher who kept on encouraging me,” he said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that came right after his graduation, he was forced to wait until 2021 to enroll for his current course.
Further, he also works as a casual labourer at Roshni Distributors from morning till 5 PM when he returns to his shop in Mathare North Area One where sells chicken until 10 PM.
“The business has helped me so much. In a month, I can rake in at least Ksh 20,000 in profits. Since my university fee ranges from Ksh 40,000 to Ksh 53,000 per semester, I put aside some money every single day
“I meticulously plan for every shilling I get and ensure that I clear the fees before exam period comes around,” Okumu said.
