Onguko completed school in 2014 with an A grade in his final KCSE secondary school exams. This is extremely rare in Kenya, with less than 1% of students generally achieving an ‘A’ grade.
It secured him a coveted place to study for a degree in Actuarial science at Kenyatta University and he successfully completed two years taking on a local student loan.
However inexplicably, the university cancelled the course. Unable to either transfer to another university or to another course at Kenyatta, Onguko decided to start again. He began a degree in Public Health at Kissi University, taking on the associated costs of studying for another four years.
His perseverance and hard work again paid off, when he graduated with a First-Class degree.
Despite this he has not yet been able to find permanent paid work. Here’s his story …
My name is Oginga Odinga Onguko
Life after school is so demanding and not a walk in the park as I had been made to understand while growing up. Things just don’t happen or come by. You make them happen. It is like survival for the fittest. The world is currently so competitive such that any slight loss of focus and you are left miles away from rest of the pack.
Currently, I am volunteering as a Public Health Officer in Migori County. I do routine meat inspection for the entire ward. I am in charge of two community health units. In addition, I am engaged in a reproductive health program focusing on adolescent girls. The program aims to prevent unplanned pregnancies and foster education among the girls by providing family planning services and teaching the girls basic life skills that are important in their daily activities like cooking, baking, etc.
I am also engaged in community case management of a malaria (CCMm) program by RAPADO, an NGO that focuses on eliminating malaria incidences in rural communities.
And I am engaged in a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) program which is currently being rolled by Blue Cross-Nyatike, an organization that aims to break the silence around MHM issues among the Kuria Community. Of interest is my engagement in the Market Based Sanitation (MBS) program, a USAID program that is working to ensure locals in Kuria East have access to information and modern technologies in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. They roll out toilets and pans which have proven to be environmentally friendly, easy to clean, affordable and easy to install, and locals are loving the new experience.
I have plans of applying for the professional examinations, including a one year internship which then will enable me to obtain my license to practice as a registered Public Health Officer.
I also have plans to further my education by pursuing a Master’s degree and subsequent Doctorate through a scholarship scheme. My interest is to practice and also venture into the academic world as a lecturer and researcher.
Reaching the summit of Mount Kenya
Challenges are visible in every corner of my struggles. My main challenge is that I have not had a good support system in my entire life following the death of my parents in 1998/99. That left a vacuum that I have since not been able to fill. So on most occasions, I have had to be my own support system.
Thank God RRBF came to my aid. I will forever remain indebted.
My advice would be to never let what people say break you down. On many occasions I have seen my peers rise up the ranks and sometimes I am tempted to compare myself with them but then I realize the playing field is not level. If it were, then probably I would be where I should be at the moment in terms of professional development. My mantra is to focus on the goal.
I manage my challenges by ensuring I am mentally, physically, and socially fit through cycling which I use as therapy. I have also learnt to develop networking skills with people whom I deem as role models and this has made me improve remarkably. Most importantly, I have been able to open up and be socially available. I am able to share my challenges with my closest friends and role models so I could get the best and genuine advices they can give.
My quote which pushes me to become myself is one from Eleanor Roosevelt –Do one thing every day that scares you.