Daniel Otieno
My name is Daniel Otieno Ooko, an Egerton University graduate. I bagged first-class honors in B.sc. Chemistry in June 2021. I am a valedictorian and a pioneer student of Kenswed Secondary School located in Kibiko Kajiado County, a school that remains my alma mater.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND
After completing my KCPE in Oloolua primary school, my exemplary performance attracted calls from various secondary schools, but among them, my best choice was Machakos Boys High School. It was my dream school; all along I had a fine taste and desire to study in an enthusiastically endorsed school with renowned performance and great infrastructure. I really wanted to study in a boarding national school so that I could have a good environment to focus on my studies.
The letter from Machakos Boys High School had very high school fees. My excitement was leveled down to nothing as I knew openly that my only parent(mom)who was the bread winner was very sick at home, It was never easy for me, I felt shuttered, broken and disappointed. I had to forego the idea of joining a high school. I vividly recall in January 2012, a stranger stopped me by the roadside just near our small rented house; she was a frequent passerby who knew us very well. She shared with me the news about the new school (Kenswed secondary school) that was admitting students who had performed well but were financially challenged. I went and shared the news with my sick mom and she agreed to accompany me to school.
MY JOURNEY TO KENSWED
We woke up the next day and embarked on our journey of about 10km to Kenswed Secondary School. It was quite exhausting journey. Upon arrival, our eyes were welcomed by an office and two classrooms with unleveled compound. I felt so discouraged to an extent to turning down but I was encouraged by my mom not to focus on infrastructure but consider getting education as a first priority. A new dawn and a chapter were opened on that fateful day. I was enrolled as a student without uniforms, books or even a pen. We never paid a single cent. The fascinating moment in Kenswed was meeting teachers who were selfless and committed to their work and the Swedish students who visited us from time to time to give us hope about life and gave us courage to face the circumstances of life, overlap, overcome and win. I enjoyed immense support from teachers who challenged me to keep doing my best and perform better every day. These bore fruits and I was always among the top performing students.
A coin tossed has two sides, life was not rosy it was a paradise with its equal shares of thorns. We didn’t have power to illuminate our classrooms well or even charge the appliances that would be used to teach us and tutors had to be innovative by sourcing alternative power source in order to bail out the problem. I stepped in a laboratory for the first time when I was in form three to carry out my first chemistry practical just weeks before sitting for a crucial indexing exam which required thorough preparation as it involved all students in Kajiado County. The reference books were in scarcity and we could compete to borrow them from the staffroom at interval limiting personal revision. We had to be created and use a kerosene lamp or a candle for evening revision and early morning preps. This was such a humbling experience that taught me great life lessons.
My stay at Kenswed was lively and my social life expanded. Not once was I involved in athletics and played volleyball for school team. From this experience, my leadership career was birthed when I was elected the first school captain, a position I held for three years and served with wisdom and diligence. I was appointed the Christian union chairman, an avenue I used to mobilize resources that were use to acquire the public address systems. These opportunities incented me to explore my potentials and hone my skills.
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LIFE IN UNIVERSITY
After graduating from Kenswed Secondary school, I secured admission with Egerton University where I was elected as the course rep in my first year and in my second year; I was elected the science congress representative in student body. It was in this year that I was feted as exemplary student leader award by Africa Young Leadership Forum (AYLF). All through my university studies, I never dropped my guard or lost focus in academics, I stayed on top of the pyramid. In my third year, I was elected the chairman of University peer counseling group, a position that I integrated so well to influence student’s lives positively.
In 2019 when I had a challenge with fee, Mr. Isaac Macharia directed me to apply for Kenswed scholarship which was successful and my fee arrears was paid without a bargain including the presiding year. I promised myself that in return to honor that favor, I will know no fail. I wanted to make kenswed and myself happy. In the midst of civid-19 crises, tertiary institutions were closed and I had to halt my studies, during that time, kenswed enrolled us to digital classes which saved me a lot, I learnt a lot and garnered knowledge and noble skills.
I went back to school to complete my studies and graduated honorably with first class honors in B.sc. Chemistry. After a few months, the University awarded me with a partial scholarship to study Master of Science in chemistry. I was torn between applying for jobs and taking the offer. I didn’t have sufficient funds to top up in order to begin my studies. It’s at this stage that I shared my challenge with the Kenswed principal and  the director, Mr. Isaac Macharia who came to my aide, within no time, an agreement was made and my fees was paid. I am now pursuing my Msc.Chemistry and it’s a dream come true. I feel so much indebted to Kenswed. I will always come to give back by all ways and means when called upon to. To me Kenswed is a dream builder and a fortress that waters and nurtures destinies making unseen become real. I would like to work in a research institution and also as a lecturer.
