By Erick Nyayiera
Gabriel Ochieng, 21, who once worked as a guard at Maranda High School was recently admitted to the school as a Form One student.
Ochieng had dropped out of school and opted for security job to eke a living and was assigned to Maranda High School.
When he turned up at the school main gate, his colleagues were astonished to learn that he was coming as a student.
“For us this is a big achievement and we are hoping that you will share the secrets of success with us,” one of the guards said as he cleared Ochieng at the gate.
The former guard told Education News that life was never easy for him stating that he aspires to be a forensic expert when he finishes school.
Before becoming a security guard, Ochieng said he worked as a water vendor in Siaya town before he was informed about a chance at Pride Kings Security firm.
As fate would have it, he was recruited and became the youngest guard-something that he says shocked one of the visitors at the school. He said the visitor, who was not known to him told him to travel to Nairobi so that he could be helped to go back to school.
When he got to Nairobi he was given directions to Ofafa Jericho Primary School where he met the head teacher Elizabeth Akinyi. He studied there for two years.
“When I first heard his story, I didn’t believe him but after his narration I realised his case was genuine and I decided to take him as part of my family, in the years at school he was among the top pupils.” said Akinyi.
“Through his determination and hard work, he was elected by his fellow pupils as the Speaker of the school’s Assembly,” she added.
She said that a well-wisher decided to pay for Ochieng’s fees for four years.
