Stephen Okoth Okumu is an undergraduate degree student at Mount Kenya University (MKU) who finances his studies by selling chicken.
The 27-year-old opened up about his tough childhood that was marked by multiple financial constraints. He revealed that his father, Elly Okumu Ayieko, missed the chance to join Makerere University due to financial constraints.
Being the last born in a family of 10, Okumu is the only educated child in his family, as all his siblings dropped out of school over fee challenges.
“I am the only one in my family who managed to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). All the others left school at the primary level.
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That I will be completing my degree in April and graduating in August is still a point of wonder for me. Truly, God is good, all the time,” he said in an interview with local media house, Nation.
He said after completing his primary school studies, he joined a missionary secondary school in Mathare North, where all his school fees and meals were taken care of by sponsors.
Okumu revealed he had to walk from Kayole to Mathare North daily in whatever weather. The struggles did not dampen his spirit, and he believed that one day he would establish a better version of himself.
Okumu, who is currently a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in commerce, says he had to look for a business to raise money as the situation back home didn’t allow him to advance his studies.
“I was staying with my brother in Kayole, but after completing my KCSE in 2015, I decided to be proactive. I left home and moved to Huruma. Life there was tough as usual, but I was determined to achieve my dreams,’’ he added.
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He tried various businesses before settling on the chicken business. He got a friend from high school who helped him run the business and parted ways two years later.
After a year of operation, he enrolled for a diploma course in Human Resource Management at Mount Kenya University and graduated in 2020. He later rejoined the institution for his current course while still in the chicken business.
Okumu doubles up as a casual laborer at Roshni Distributors, where he works from Monday to Saturday; then, at 5 pm, he returns to his business premises and sells chicken until 10 pm.
“The business has helped me so much. In a month, I can rake in at least Sh. 20,000 in profits. Since my university fee ranges from Sh. 40,000 to Sh. 53,000 per semester, I put aside some money every single day. I meticulously plan for every shilling I get and ensure that I clear the fees before the exam period comes around,” he said.
He plans to open more chicken shops across Nairobi to maximize his profits. Okumu advised young people to always have the correct attitude in whatever they do.