One Year Later: Braving Unemployment; Jobless doesn't mean Useless!

A couple of years back, we had Donald Trump elected back into the White House after a 4 year interruption of what he had believed would be a  2 term Presidency of the USA. He had promised that he would cut down or completely eliminate aid that the US government had been known for all over the world. 

.                President Donald Trump of the USA

Many of us in the humanitarian and development agencies had assumed that this would take quite some time to actualize. We were mostly wrong and majority of the INGO staff who relied on USAID funding were caught flat footed by how hard and fast the closure came down at us and the communities we served.

First came the Stop Word Order in the start of 2025 that was followed by program closeouts in quick succession and before long; thousands of careers went down. Millions of beneficiaries and program participants in donor funder interventions were left bare and exposed in a flash.

At a personal professional level I was caught right in the middle of all this confusion with staff job losses projected to hundreds of our country staff. Any HR professional who has handled mass layoffs or redundancies will tell you that it is the most mentally draining process in our jobs. The emotional and physical toll of it all is very easy to ignore but in the end, it takes one down mentally if not physically. We carry the emotional distress of our workforce.

It made me fat for some reasons as well. I didn't like my stomach! As I am 6 feet tall, it was not obvious that I was fat because the fat made friends equally with all parts of my body. We no longer call people fat, we say they are easier to see.

Planning and executing the job losses of staff behind closed doors and announcing it publicly as one sees the fear and hopelessness among the affected and remaining staff is literally hell. Unfortunately, during such moments; the People leaders like me have to maintain a straight face and not break as we are usually the pillar that keeps everyone else including the leadership sane.

The day I left my role, I took the afternoon flight out of Nairobi and retired to my family village home in the countryside. I noticed then and in retrospect how much a weight I had been carrying on my shoulders for six straight months without losing it all. I was super exhausted mentally and physically from the gruel of staff reductinon and decided not to seek any jobs whatsoever for at least 3 straight months. I almost hated employment and didn't wantbany conversations about job hunting not applied for anything during the 90 day reflection period. 

That, ladies and gentlemen is the toll of leading redundancy processes on a People Leader. Check on one People Leader around you because they might just be sinking slowly but surely.

During those straight three months, I stayed within 10km radius of my village home. I never visited Kisumu which is 57kms away nor any of my friends. The furthest I would go would be my evening or morning walks that would range between 7km to 15km to and from. I really cherished a break and was finally able to clear my mind and with that I felt lighter in the head.

Unfortunately joblessness also makes the pockets lighter as money ceases to flow in as a regular salary!

One of the statements I love telling myself and others is 'Joblessness cannot kill, your attitude towards jobless can kill'. This is a guiding principle that life has brought my way and several rounds of being our of regular employment over the years. I have written many times about job losses in this blog as well as on my social media pages. Some of the writings are found in this blog:

https://tomarody.blogspot.com/2020/07/losing-job-realities.html

https://tomarody.blogspot.com/2020/07/coping-with-job-loss.html

Braving the year so far:

So now, how have I braved the first year of being unemployed? I do look at it as the first of many whose numbers I may not tell or the end of regular employment as I have known it. Any time I get out of a job, I always provide for the fact that I may never get another one altogether and to some degree, it helps me manage my expectations of life along with it.

This last year, I became so many things, changed other aspects of my life, impacted the community and my direct beneficiaries etc. I tried several things and discovered myself in ways I did not know before, perhaps that is the beauty of having time and space to think through stuff even though it does not always come with money one desires. There were sad losses and good gains along the way but life is for the living, so they say.

Loss of education sponsorship for needy children in my community:

For those who have known me long enough or followed some of my writings, they will remember that I have always supported the education of various children from poor families to get their education. This I have done through my contributions and social media fundraisers in some cases like:

1. https://tomarody.blogspot.com/2021/08/my-amazing-experience-with-philanthropy.html and  2.https://tomarody.blogspot.com/2021/08/my-amazing-experience-with-philanthropy.html

I first had to drop any form of financial support to these two university students followed closely by another set of 4 high school students that I also supported. While it was not the best outcome, I did speak with the parents and guardians of the affected students as well as the students themselves before cutting the philanthropy line. 

One of the university students has completed his course this year while one of the highschoolers also finished and is not able to proceed to college for obvious reasons. He was at my home last week asking me about  his fate but I had no concrete answer then but encouraged him to make applications to the TVETs in Kenya for his desired course of Diploma in Civil Engineering. I told him to first get the admission and things will fall in place. 

Withdrawal of provision of clean piped water:

For six years, I have consistently been providing my neighbours in the village with access to clean piped water from the Siaya Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBOWASCO) that I had connected upon moving to my current village home location. At the beginning, it was a free for all, any time any day kind of provision which led to some extensive misuse of the privilege by some households. 

.    An old picture of the external water tap neighbour used

I would then cap the water to 200 liters per day per household for about 10 households. In the course of time, the financial cost was also not tenable and I was able to bring it down to twice a week. I did encourage the families to slowly find money to make their own connections even as I provided the free water. This was a success in some of them with a total of 5 families eventually getting their own connections especially the last year. In the course of the last year, the bill was not sustainable any more and I had to stop providing this support any further.

Many people who visited me over the years I was providing free water would ask me what the motivation was. It was due to the fact that the alternative was a bigger cost in the long run. It meant the households would need to get water from disused gold mine pits, stagnant pools and ponds that are scattered around. That translated to increased risk of water borne diseases that could easily lead to death and hospitalization. How was that my problem? A hospitalization or death would mean some degree of financial support to the affected families during that phase.

WhatsApp Groups:

Most people utilize the WhatsApp platform to get support for various causes especially when under duress. This is true when one needs financial support or fundraising for issues such as funerals, medical or education for their kin. The last year, I have withdrawn from and let the affected friends and family who invite me to such causes that it is not something I am able to take part in then and in the near future. I have seen some disappointments including one person who responded by telling me that I would need them some day too. 

You know, false promises are terrible things to make so I do not in principle say things I will not commit to. Therefore I do clearly let my buddies why I would not be of any use in fundraisers when I personally have no consistent and predictable cashflow. Life has taught me to be clear to manage expectations and limit disappointments.

Despite the couple of issues highlighted above; the usual cycle of issues especially at societal level on being out of employment come into play but today I do not want us to dwell on them. It has not been all gloomy as I was able to discover myself as well beyond the People Leader I have been over the years as an outstanding HR professional. If I do not say that I am outstanding, who will say it for me?

Farming:

I have been an experimental and hobbyist many things over the years. I have been a Photographer, a Canvas Painter and more consistently over the last  years, a small scale hobbyist farmer. 

.    Separating beans from the chaff using wind at my farm

This has seen me grow various crops including sweet potatoes, indigenous vegetables, pumpkins, spinach groundnuts, water melon, sunflower, maize as well as beans in the village farm. For this specific experience, I will focus on sunflower farming.

.   One of the numerous sunflower heads I had at my farm.

I have done sunflower farming two times in my farm all the way to processing and packing my own cold pressed oil that I use and also sold to consumers. Last year, having seen how the sunflower farming brought me to national limelight; I decided to scale up and got additional farmlands from a friend in the village Boaz Okore and my younger brother Lawrence Arody. When consolidated, I had a total of about 5 acres under sunflower crop in three farms. 

.   The sunflower heads against my head for context 

I was elated and projected major outputs in terms of harvest and processed oil and the seedcake by products. From the health and development of the crops and my experience with the smaller scale produce I had the previous year; I was looking at approximately Kenya Shillings 600,000 from the sale of cold pressed oil, sunflower seedcake and crop residue. I was happy with the progress and the possible fortunes from what I still see as a hobby.

.    A sample of the sunflower oil I pressed from my seeds

Shit happened the last few weeks and birds ate literally 95% of my crop in all the three farms despite being at different locations. Of the projected 600-800 liter of oil, I was able to get 13 which I left at the oil press for the owner to consume or sell if he so wished. But, I did not stop farming as I was able to plant maize in quick succession and beans most recently. 

.    Spinach in my vertical gardens.

Farming teaches you life and how unpredictable it can get. What matters most is not giving up from the setbacks.

I did not and have not.

Carpentry:

A few months into my many months of being out of employment, I was able to find a huge old tree that was brought down by the heavy winds that accompanied rains in my area. 'Matindri' as it is called in my area and scientifically known as  croton megalocarpus is a large and really hard hard wood when aged well. I went and cut off the tree and made lots of timber from it. Its grains are incredibly attractive with a beautiful contrast and I was quickly able to see furniture in my eyes but not able to make them - or so I thought. 

.    Two types of outdoor seats that I made in the village.

So I engaged a local carpenter whom I worked with very closely in making the first seat from some Pinterest inspiration I had got before I tried my hand after he had left. I ended up becoming a carpenter myself and build several other outdoor seats and tables! 

.   A set of outdoor seats and table that I made myself.

The beauty of exploring one's abilities when time allows due to being our of regular employment. So, you too can find some meaning in some of those raw material you see around you including metal.

.    Oudoor tables that I made from offcuts

At one time after I had made these pieces of furniture, a good friend of mine and my senior at St. Mary's School, Yala where gentlemen are manufactured in Kenya came and bought one seat and a table! See how some skills that are hidden are also hiding money in us. 

Meeting Authors and having book signings:

One of my longest lasting dreams is to write a book or books. Since I am not dead yet, the time for that book wil come. Before that time, I do celebrate those who have written any books and are launching them. I have had the honour of tracking book launches by authors I know in person or have admired over the years. This saw me in interesting engagements with the authors and readers in some spectacular events.

.   With Author Oyunga Pala during his book signing in Kisumu.On the left is Oluoch Madiang'

.     With Author Dr. Mordecai Ogada at his book signing

.    With Author Dr. Stephen Gwer at their book reading 

.    At the boom reading of 'My Next of Skin'

.    With Author Dr. Oby Obbyerodhiambo at their book reading 

.   Author Oluoch Madiang' signing my copy

I got a major thrill from thee book events for various reasons. One, that I could meet people whose writings have contributed to significant intellectual discourse in the country as two, because some of these authors were people in have known innoerson for years. Also, it added fuel to that dream I told you in the beginning. Look out for a book from me some day. I may just title it 'Arodi, not a raw deal'

Conservation:

I ama great fan of environmental conservation and do this mostly through planting trees and deliberate acts of protecting the environment. The long rains this year were my main catalysts for afforestation. I used the opportunity to personally plant approximately 1800 trees between mid February and mid May when the rains were at their peak.It was the most refreshing period for me during this break as I know the fruits will come when people will see a great forest in the years to come that will be attributed to me. 

.    My first day at reforestation of a bare piece of my property 

Trees are not grown to grant immediate benefits to the person growing them. They are meant for people we do not know and will likely enjoy them after we are long dead. I have been having my babies plant trees too every time they are with me in the village so they conservation seed tat was planted by my father doesn't end with me.

.   My daughter and son doing their part in planting trees

Many years back our villages didn't have significant tree cover and I saw as a young boy, what lack of tree meant to the environment.  The associated drought, heat, unhinged winds were all outcomes of not having trees. Now, I keep planting trees when in my compound which looks full to the eyes of a guest but I have seen the benefits of the coolness they cause.

.   Ready to plant cedar trees 

As you can see, I did not just get to use timber from a tree to make hke made outdoor furniture but also actively replaced them by planting new ones

My tree planting mission doubled up as the main weight loss regime that I deliberately wanted. The sheer physical efforts I need to make by digging holes between rocks, planting and covering each single tree by myself was very taxing.  1800 trees later, I had lost 11 kilos only 2 kilos shy of my target. Now,btge floor has opened up for a discussion on whether I am skinny , slender or thin. Those are semantics as what I know is that I used the time in my hands to benefit my environment as well as my body. Now, I like my stomach and we are close friends.

Chill Spots:

Another way I found myself useful was in the creation of various chill spots in parts of my property that I do enjoy spending most of my evenings when the sun is heading down. 

I have learnt to commune with natura as one of the best ways to reset and rest my mind. The views I get from these chill spots are refreshing and I have always tagged my visitors to experience them with me.

The idea of setting chill spots came from a very random visit of a group of friends who had asked me to take them for a hike on this property. With time on my hands, I decided to follow through as one would wihbany projects and ideas that we keep shelving when in full time jobs.

The views have always inspired me to go up the hill to these spots which in the end turns out to be a form or exercise as well. The double wins have been good for my eyes, mind and body. 

You rememe saying that timber and metal can always find projects? These benches are made from waste construction timber. And they take about 10 minutes maximum to fix!

Corporate MC and Event Moderator:

A few months in the start of the year, a former colleague of mine called to ask me to be the moderator of their annual work planning meeting. This was to allow the team be fully present and engaged in the process rather than having team members double up as moderators as well as participants. I had no idea where he had seen that talent in me but I was glad he brought it out very well by getting me on that stage.

The invite to moderate the event has come a couple of months after a friend had recommended me to be the corporate event MC for the Silver Jubilee of Cecypo in Kisumu. She had seen me being the MC at my mum's funeral a few months earlier and thought I could pull this too. I did and got some fresh feedback.

Why blog the experience?

It is a question you may ask. You are right to ask.

The palm of my hands are a demonstration of what is possible with them. Have plans, have ideas, have dreams knowing that most times; it is your hands they need. During these gaps of employment that we tend to fade in life once ina while, let's explore ourselves some more. Our potential is unlimited and we can  be surprised by what we are capable of doing only by doing.

I have in the last 12 months broken out of the cocoon of being exclusively known as a People Leader into many different persona:

A carpenter 

A farmer 

A corporate events MC 

An environmentalist

A father, of course

A moderator 

And most importantly, an optimist. One of my biggest strengths is that I don't focus on the 'what ifs?' of life. I load and fire and not overthink.

Give it a try to see your exponential potential as well.