Evans Otieno, a committed member of the Busia community who scored B+ in his KCSE exams, has been appointed the assistant chief of Bukalama village. His journey into this role speaks volumes about so much faith in persistence and resilience.
Otieno started off his academic journey by passing with a good B+ in KCSE. He later joined the University of Nairobi but financial constraints pushed him to drop out in the third year. Otieno never lost hope, taking on various menial jobs to make ends meet, among them a boda boda rider.
Indeed, his efforts paid off; he was recognized and appointed as an assistant chief in Busia County. Done was the appointment ceremony in this heartwarming affair of great excitement from the community to his new role, presaging good things to happen to Bukalama village.
Otieno’s journey was marked by personal losses and financial constraints. After the death of his father, grandmother, and grandfather in a span of weeks, he could not continue with his studies following the financial constraint. He was partially being supported by the Higher Education Loans Board; this made extending his academic year null, and hence he had to drop out.
In reflection, Otieno says, “I thought I would return to class in less than three years. Almost eight years later, the more I thought about the dream, the more other responsibilities came up.” His commitment to his community did not waver despite all this.
Before his promotion, Otieno was known for his good morals as a boda boda operator and a man of integrity. Colleagues and members of the community testified to his good character, which no doubt played a big part in his selection as assistant chief.
Otieno’s story speaks loudly of the fact that the most overwhelming challenges can be surmounted by sheer will and hard work. His new position as an assistant chief not only recognizes his efforts in the past but also opens a mega avenue for him to make a meaningful difference in his community.