'Tom, you have gained weight...'
"Tom/Arody you have gained a
lot of weight lately, umenona sana (you have become so fat) these days! Your
wife must be doing some pretty good job pumping food into you"
Indeed my answer to the
allegations that I have gathered weight is always met by a smile. My trademark
smile which Obama stole from me and Larry Madowo has perfected to a point some
rumours started flying that he looks like me. Luckily those rumours never went
to the point of alleging that I could be his father. Behind my smile, laughter
and jokes lie a story. A story of me
which many people have never known. A story of ruthless determination and
ambition to get what I deserve in a journey that was steered by me but beacons
placed by a large number of people who played a big role in making me be.
I am not a successful man or
husband by any standards but I consider myself a story of hope and
encouragement to those who have never believed they can and those in the
journey to being what they believe they are meant to be.
I was born and raised in a
polygamous family of 10 brothers and 7 sisters and I hold the rare position of
the 7th born of my mother and the 7th son of my father. Just last night, my mum
was telling us a story of how each of her children were born and I am the one
who held the envious title of having been born at the gate of our parents'
house in Umoja 1 House number J109. My mother was with her co-wife who
mid-wifed my birth and I was never taken to any hospital thereafter. Last night
I complained a lot why I was not even taken just for a checking to confirm that
my head was of the right size or that my nose was pulling in the right amount
of Oxygen. I got to understand why I was the only of my siblings who never had
a birth certificate. I remember the clinic card I got under my name was bearing
the remarks, 'the baby boy looks fine and healthy, he can now start taking uji'.
Fast forward, I went to Unity
Primary School from Pre Unit to Class 5 West and then to Ndira Primary School
in Bondo to class 8 and had a stint in St. Mary's Yala where I was taught to
shine in everythig everywhere and to be a gentleman. Any encounter with an
alumni of Yala will attest to the shining and being a gentleman. It is in this
school that I met humble students who would clothe me and feed me whenever
poverty failed to reach.
I forever remember Thomas Austin
Obulutsa and Milham Ochieng' Abungu who would always give me their school
shorts to wear for years as they believed I deserved assistance. For those who
wonder why I am always comfortable in shorts, today you get to know how 4 years
of wearing shorts made me hooked. I will never once forget Simon Midianga who
would actually hand me a set of uniforms to wear for keeps while in form 3 and
4 together with a pair of shoes which I would wear to my first two jobs after
Yala. My misery was taken away by these young boys who have since become men
and seen blessings in quantities that cannot be measured by a ruler or a
thermometer.
Fast Fast Forward; I got a job
with the County Council of Bondo where I encountered three gentlemen who were
my bosses and shaped the course of my life. Mr. Ochieng' Oneko who would always
remind me to say, 'Yes Sir' to my seniors if that is what made a boss happy.
Mr. Omondi Were who insisted that I would be better as an Administrator and Mr.
John Oloo (R.I.P) who kept telling me I could become anyone I wanted. My college
education was paid for in full by the Council in an unprecedented move. I have
always remained proud of that part of my life I can never erase from my history
and professional life.
It is during my teaching job that
I was to meet one friend who was to become a brother the name Frank Agot. He
has been one of the most ambitious people I have ever met in my life who would
always light a fire on me to try out some new challenge after another.
It is after graduating from Kenya
Polytechnic that I would have a colleague and friend of mine called Maurice
Oyaro come with an advert from Kisumu looking for a HR Officer with 3 years
experience, with a degree, having NGO experience and having worked with not
less than 50 employees. Oyaro insisted that I had all NRHS was asking for in
terms of my performance and not necessarily my number of years experience and a
diploma. I never believed him but he insisted that being his HR, he knew what I
was capable of. I would land the job later with nothing except a colleague who
gave me courage and made me go for it. That was my entry into HR Practice in
the NGO sector. It has been 7 years and into the 8th and counting. Thank you
Maurice for believing in me and making me believe in myself.
It was at the NRHS job that I
encountered a Board of Directors that I would trade anything for. It is here
that I met Prof. Robert C. Bailey, Prof. J.
Ndinya - Achola (R.I.P) and Prof. Kawango Agot who would write me emails
that I had the ability to be a Prof just like them and that I needed to get a
degree in HRM for which they would pay 100%. I asked to pay some little of the
cost so I could at least own part of my professional education. The Board
agreed to pay 2 for each 1 shilling I paid and when this news was passed to me,
it was Frank Agot who paid my first semester fees for B. Com at The University
of Nairobi in full. He had just got a job in the USA having relocated from
staying with me in Kisumu. The amount of blessings Frank Agot has been
receiving in is life cannot fit a lorry! Thanks a tonne my brother and I always
owe and dedicate my success to you and the NRHS Board for believing in me.
I once attended three job
interviews and landed all the three jobs in reputable International NGOs and
had to pick one of them which ended up as a bad choice. I learnt my lessons and
moved out and moved on. It was while on a break from employment that I was
called my one long time friend and a HR colleagues Lucy Gacheru to try out a
job at PATH which she insisted I deserved and actually got.
My inspiration in life has been
the people who have believed in my potential and given me a chance to showcase
it and become what I have managed to be. As I close the year 2014, I take huge
cognizance of these great people among others whose impact in my life cannot be
quantified. I thank them all in a special way and pray that you may receive
even greater rewards for charting the course of my life.
My parents and siblings for being
a beacon of support whenever I needed one, may you live for another 200 years.
To my wife Lydia, you hang onto me even when I would be unreasonable and too
stubborn but still believed in my intention. May the next year be an even
greater year.
To the most composed friend I
have ever had in my life Francis Onditi, your ability to reason out situations
is only second to that of my dad and brother Killy (R.I.P). My buddies Sam
Ogalo for always challenging me to new levels, Remjius Miyai for never getting
tired of calling me even when you just want to say hi. Andrew Owuor, for being
the friend whom people would refer to as 'Yule rafiki wako wa macho ine';
Wherever Andrew was seen, Arody was assumed to be around. Engineer Adrian Ouma
for being my best man in our wedding and keeping touch always. It was a great
honour to have you with us.
Sam Okoth for showing us that one
can become what s/he has set eyes to be. You do not have a limit of ambition
and keep it up. Frank Abuor, Neville, Justus, Donnex; you are a crop of young
intelligent men who will go very far and achieve a lot. Adhu for always telling
me in Bondo and later in the years that I could always become better. Dr. June
Odoyo for reminding me of how annoying my work emails could be and in the same
breath tell me to keep that style of honest and point blank communication.
To all of my friends, family and
colleagues past and present as well as future; you made 2014 and the past be
and now I welcome 2015 with confidence because of you all! Bring it on 2015,
the year of abundance. Welcome the year of double joy, the year of our baby
girl, the year of Subaru and the year of success.
Happy and Prosperous 2015!
Comments
Post a Comment