Caren Ochieng, a graduate of the Kenya Technical Teachers College, now renamed to Kenya School of TVET, was forced to push a cart (mkokoteni) to make ends meet.
The young mother of two divulged that she had to defy all odds to feed her sons, aged 5 and 1.
In a plea shared by former Trade Chief Administrative (CAS) David Osiany on Friday, June 23, the lady asked Kenyans to help her secure a job for the sake of her children.
The former CAS, alongside his wife Syombua Osiany, noticed the lady seemingly tired from pushing the cart filled with firewood, as they headed home.
Touched by her grit, the Osianys engaged her in a conversation only to learn that she sought to raise Ksh4,700 in school fees for one of her sons.
She was overwhelmed by a tiresome day of hustling and had only raised a paltry Ksh1,000.
To compound the issue, her eldest son stayed home nurturing the younger one as she sought to put a meal on their table.
According to the lady, her husband deserted her after they wallowed in poverty and has never reached out to check on the young, struggling family.
Job Hunting
The resilient mother graduated with a diploma in Information Science and then enrolled for a three months attachment at the Council for Legal Education.
Nonetheless, she failed to secure a stable job, plummeting her hopes of a better life.
She explained that she could work efficiently in a library or archive and was skilled at organising a registry.
"I am a diploma graduate from Kenya Technical Teachers College. I studied Information Science and even did a teaching practice at Railways Technical Institute.
"Please just help me secure a decent job. I can work in a library and archive documents,' she pleaded.
The couple did some shopping for the embattled woman, cleared her son's school fees, and offered her more money to care for her family.
It also appealed to the public to help her secure employment, adding that she had a great work ethic.
"We are working to try and establish a job that would match her skills, and as we keep knocking on doors for her, please join us. Get the word out there for any institution in need of a librarian," Osiany stated.
Osiany further lauded Ochieng's resilience and determination to provide for her family.
