For many Kenyans, the job of Ambassadors and High Commission is reserved for those in the inner circles of the President and, by extension his deputy or close allies. From the hefty perks which include diplomatic immunity, it is among the most envied jobs.
However, for Kenya's Ambassador to Pakistan, Julius Bitok, he would not have imagined himself serving in such a position, as he was not even sure that he would complete his education in the first place.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu County, where he met egg sellers, Ambassador Bitok opened up about how, at one point in his life, he sold eggs for survival.
“I remember selling eggs by the roadside every day just to make ends meet. It was a tough life," the Ambassador intimated.
He added that the proceeds he got from selling eggs enabled him to go through school at Kaptuktuk Primary School, Arnesens Boys' High School and Chebisaas Secondary School.
Bitok added that his own personal struggles motivated him to support Kenyans who go through the same plight. He set up the Ambassador Bitok Foundation which provides financial assistance to needy and brilliant students from humble backgrounds.
"I grew up in poverty so I know the meaning of not having enough that is why I stand with the poor and less fortunate because I have been there before and I understand," he added.
The Ambassador revealed that he attended the Kenya Science Teachers College for a Diploma Course after which he joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) for an undergraduate degree in Economics.
Biwot obtained a Master of Business Administration from UoN before he joined Oklahoma State University for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management. He later returned to Kenya, where he lectured at various universities.
He established himself as an educationalist and a financial guru. Biwot has consulted with various entities including the State House, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
In 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him as Kenya's ambassador to Pakistan. While serving as envoy, he has pushed his agenda by securing a deal with the Pakistani government that would see Kenyan youth get scholarships to study in the Asian country.
