When Francis Machira completed his high school education, the idea of looking for a job in order to support his family, which was facing economic challenges, came to his mind, as he couldn’t join university since the family could not raise money to cater for his education.
As a young man full of energy and ambition, he decided to move with speed from his rural home in Western Kenya to West Pokot County, the land of hidden treasures, in search of greener pastures in 1989.
After hustling for a while, he was employed as a casual labourer at the local Maize Produce and Cereal Board in Makutano town.
“I was promised by the management that, as soon as an opportunity arose, I would be employed permanently,” Machira said.
As he worked there like any other casual labourer, he was assigned to do any available job. Among the jobs he did, his supervisor realised that he was good at fence cutting and the beautification of flowers, and that is how he was placed in charge of that section.
As practice makes perfect, he continued to perform his work, gained experience, and became an expert in that area.
With the little savings he made and, as the Bible says, a man should have an assistant (wife), he got married. To sustain the family, he also used his savings to open a grocery shop for his wife.
As West Pokot County residents visited the Cereal Board for their businesses, they saw the neat fence he was tending and gradually began inviting him to their homes to tend their fences too. With the confidence accorded to him by the residents, he further improved on his work.
Unfortunately, he was not permanently employed by the Cereal Board after hoping and waiting for several years. He decided to leave and concentrate on fence cutting and flower beautification.
Apart from homesteads, he is also invited to schools and churches to offer the same services.
READ ALSO: Burns, breakdowns and breakthroughs: My Culinary Arts journey at KU
The fruits of his labour include providing necessities for his family, educating his children, buying a piece of land in Trans Nzoia County, and keeping two dairy cows.
“My free advice to the youth—mjitume tafadhali to earn a living,” said Francis Machira.
By Martin Ruto
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
