- Due to desperation, James Okello has become a porter in his quest to earn income and meet his needs as he waits for better employment opportunities.
- The Kenyatta University (KU) graduate said he turned to business after failing to find a job despite graduating with a Second Class Honors degree.
- Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the 27-year-old Nairobi resident opened up about her educational journey and the challenges she faced along the way.
Graduates are finding it increasingly difficult to find employment after college and university, forcing many to explore alternative sources of income.
Source: UGC
A graduate of Kenyatta University has turned to carrying goods in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) after struggling to find work.
James Okello graduated with a Second Class Honors degree in Environmental Science (Resource Conservation), expecting immediate employment.
For luck unfortunately, this did not happen, forcing him to find an alternative way to make a living.
“I came to town with a dream…I ended up carrying luggage just to afford food,” the description of his TikTok video read.
How old is James Okello?
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the 27-year-old shared his educational journey and the financial difficulties he went through to complete his studies.
“My educational journey has been motivated by perseverance, perseverance, and sincere dedication to achieve my dreams despite huge financial and social challenges. I started my primary education at Ojolla Primary School before moving to Mawembe Kodero Primary School, where I completed my KCPE in 2015 with 285 marks.
In 2016, I joined Kisian High School as a day scholar, but due to financial constraints, my mother made a great sacrifice by renting a portion of our family’s land to enable me to move to Ombay High School as a boarding student. I completed my KCSE in 2019 with an average grade of C (45 marks),” he revealed.
Okello turned to boda boda activities
Despite these results, Okello remained determined to pursue higher education. He started boda boda activities in his village to save money and support his education.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he made the bold decision to repeat the fourth form at Bar Union High School.
Okello said he walked about four kilometers every day to school while balancing financial problems with academic pressure.
Through hard work, discipline, and faith, he improved his performance and earned a C+ average, making him eligible for college.
Okello was called Rongo University
“After completing my KCSE, I continued to work as a bodaboda rider to raise funds for the university. During my KUCCPS position, I was accepted into Rongo University to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Interior and Textile Design. However, my passion was in science and environmental conservation, and my dream was to study at KU. With limited resources, I used my savings of KSh 1,000 to apply for transfers to various institutions. Fortunately, my application was successful, and I joined KU in October 2021 to pursue Environmental Science.
University life came with significant financial challenges. During my first and second year, I stayed in the university hostel but often struggled to afford meals. To survive, I took on various odd jobs, including doing laundry for my classmates and working in a hotel near Kenyatta Market, washing dishes to earn money for food and basic necessities. My parents could not always help me due to the responsibility of educating my younger siblings, which pushed me to be independent,” he added.
His efforts finally paid off when he graduated. However, due to the crowded job market, getting a job right after university seemed difficult.
As he waited for better opportunities, he turned to porting in Nairobi’s downtown area to earn an income and meet his needs.
Source: UGC
James Okello faces eviction from the house he lives in after graduation
In a separate incident, Okello, who went viral for playing a song attributed to Raila Odinga at his graduation, he revealed that he was facing deportation.
He asked Kenyans for help in paying his rent, saying he had reached the limit and was unsure of his next move.
Social media users sympathized with her, encouraging her to continue to persevere while others offered to help.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
