subject: The Story of the Conquering Enoch- A University of Nairobi Law Student [print this page] The Story of the Conquering Enoch- A University of Nairobi Law Student
This story has also been published in my weblog nndalila.wordpress.com
Often the beauty of our present lives makes our past to seem to be a mere figment. This is so, especially when our past battles have been so bravely fought- and many at time when we previously had no hope for the future. That is why I would like to feature a true story of an exemplary young man. He fought from the ashes to the edge of a great success, and because everything has happened so well for him, he can only attribute it to miracles' in his life.
Miracles or no miracles, there was definitely a lot of hard work, resilience and quite a bit of luck involved. Our man is called Enoch, an orphaned university student.
Enoch is the first born in a family of 3- previously 5. His dad was the sole breadwinner of the family, providing for every single need of his family, and he occasionally provided for his extended family as well. Unfortunately, tragedy struck during the summer of 2001 when Enoch was in class seven. His father died, and left behind his dependent family.
Enoch's mother, in her sickly state, struggled to barely support the family- she too passed away a year later-on the fateful day that Enoch was doing his national exams. These exams are used to place the candidates in the different high schools. Enoch and his siblings had become complete orphans. They had nowhere to look for help as all their relatives had thrown dust at them, most choosing to completely ignore them.
The initiative of taking care of his entire family- to feed and clothe his younger brothers was now left to the 13 year old Enoch. He had to quit school and look for a job in the bustling city of Kisumu. He got a welding job in the city; he also got to barked at, ordered to do onerous jobs and being told he is a loser by his bosses and some dissatisfied customers from the onset.
It was then 2003 in when the Mwai Kibaki administration chose to fulfill one of their election pledges- setting up of a Constituency Development Fund (a kitty from the Kenya's Treasury devolved directly to constituents to be used as the constituency committees deemed fit). Using this fund, the Member of Parliament in his constituency set up a secondary school as other schools were barely affordable to the locals. The MPs then literally collected Enoch and other students to start up the school'. This moment is so vivid in his mind because he had never before envisioned himself enrolled in a high school. Enthusiastically, and with much problems he joined the school.
This was however not the end of his troubles, Enoch had many battles lined up for him, so many to be overcome. The recipe for his success was never as simple as it is put across. He had to pay his own school fees, and even work late during the school days and on weekends in the informal sector so he could fend for his baby sister and brother.
He thanks the MP, and the school in particular, he says it would have been really difficult for him to even think of continuing with his studies after being bereaved. Nevertheless, he also points out the disparaging condition of the school, this is largely of interest to me. A class in that school consisted of approximately 40 students. And they were resource stricken. There were only two textbooks for each subject unit in that school- one was the student copy (from where the students all did the assignments) and the other was the teacher's copy (for the teacher to use while to preparing for the lessons).
This pathetic condition in the school went on for the years he was in that school, and probably it may still be that bad on presently. Nevertheless, he managed to secure himself a sitting for the national exams at the high school level in 2007. Despite all the hitches during the national exam-[they had to do the exam while being rained on. The school barely had space for the candidates- so they set up a shelter, a camp-like structure where their 1st candidates could do their exams from. Those who were unlucky to sit near the edges were rained on. This was especially bad during their English Paper that was done during the afternoon], he still managed to the end of the exam.
As fate would, this young man succeeded. From being a jua kali artisan, he managed to raise an A- for himself. The highest grade he could get. This took him by surprise; he could not believe what had just happened to him. He was then taken up on government sponsorship for him to pursue his University Education. Every academic year, the government gives him a study loan of Kshs. 60,000 ($750), with Kshs. 52,000 ($650) being for his upkeep. But like a warrior who neither gives up nor forgets his past, the larger chunk of that money goes to the upkeep of his two siblings who are currently in their high school studies, including paying for their high school fees.
So here we are, at the highest institution of learning in Kenya, he sips his coffee with a smile. Apparently he fails to notice how touching his past is. I make a note of the day and mark him out as an exceptionally gifted person. This day, as I board a bus from Parklands Estate, to Lower Kabete I take note of the many blessings in my life that I am taking for granted.
