Have you ever imagined what life would be like if you were to be the only person employed by the government in your entire community? Or better yet, are there areas where equality in terms of employment opportunities is yet to be achieved 60 years after independence?
Kenyans.co.ke brings you the story of one Anthony Kutol, a resident of Nyimbei village in Baringo South who is the only person in an entire community employed by the government.
Kutol, a Kenyan born in the bandit-hit areas of Baringo County, works as a teacher attached to the Teachers Service Commission, having risen from a humble background to the position.
The only government official in his entire community shared his story of how he rose against the odds of being absorbed into banditry, to become a teacher despite the challenges in accessing educational facilities.
Police officers engaged an armed resident after recovering sheep that had been stolen by bandits.
NPS
”Some of us are not raised to be bandits. In my village, I am the only one employed by the government. The only civil servant and my people are so proud of me,” Kutol shared in an interview with the Ministry of Interior.
”I began my educational journey in 2004 as a class one student at Nyimbei Primary School where I enrolled as a secondary school student upon completion of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) because there was no other secondary school around,” he added.
Kutol’s educational aspirations almost hit a grinding halt, after he got very low marks in his KCPE (231) examinations, forcing him to consider repeating class 8.
However, after spending weeks at Nyimbei Primary, the teachers suggested that they introduce secondary education at the same school with him as the first student.
”There was an arraignment by the community to start a high school in the same institution, after which I accepted to be enrolled as the first student. I was later joined by other friends of mine who had missed a school to go to after completing their exams,” Kutol added.
He revealed that the same class that he was sitting in for a repeat of his primary education was later converted to form one, where he kick-started his higher education journey.
He later went on to do a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Arts (History/Christian Religious Education) at Mount Kenya University.
Kutol is currently employed by the TSC as a teacher at Salabani Secondary School in Marigat Baringo County.
He narrated that his journey through their education system was a struggle, having to learn without access to basic educational aids like his peers in other parts of the country. However, he stated that his community is proud of him for having shattered many ceilings.
”The first time that I saw apparatus like burette and things like microscopes was when I was doing my KCSE. The community is very proud of me and keeps using me as an example to inspire their kids to work hard like me,” Kutol narrated.
A photo of TSC Headquarters at Upperhill, Nairobi.
Photo
Triad Architects
