Kenneth Kibichi’s life has been marred by a series of misfortunes, and his hope of seeing light at the end of the tunnel has been dimming day by day. The first tragic incident occurred in 2009, just as he was about to start his secondary school journey. His father, the family’s primary breadwinner, tragically succumbed to a stroke. The following year, Kenneth suffered another devastating blow when his mother also passed away, leaving him as a total orphan.
However, the loss of his parents did not extinguish his dreams of academic success. Recognizing that education was the key to overcoming the hardships he faced, Kibichi persevered and successfully completed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with an impressive A minus grade.
His outstanding academic performance opened doors for him, and he was admitted to Karatina University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science. In an interview with Hilary Lisimba, Kenneth Kibichi shared the challenges he encountered while striving for his education. He had to take on various menial jobs to support himself in university. He described how he traveled to Sagana during his fourth year to do paintings on Fridays and return for classes on Mondays, all to earn money for rent and food.
After graduating from Karatina University with a first-class degree in 2017, Kenneth Kibichi hoped that his life would become easier. However, the reality he faced in the job market was far from what he had anticipated. Securing a job turned out to be an arduous task, and he lamented the countless job applications that yielded no results.
For the past five years since graduation, Kibichi has been unable to secure a professional job. The only significant work experience he gained was when he joined Cohort 1 of the Public Service Commission PSIP Internship in 2019, although the government did not absorb him permanently. Faced with limited opportunities, he resorted to working as a bodaboda rider to make ends meet. He emphasized that the lack of job opportunities forced him to accept any hustle that came his way, including working as a presiding officer for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission during the last general election.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Kenneth Kibichi remains determined to improve his situation. He aspires to pursue a Master’s degree at the university level, although he acknowledges that his financial resources are currently depleted. In the face of adversity, Kibichi’s resilience and determination serve as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar hardships, demonstrating that with perseverance, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter future.
