A tough childhood can have immense negative effects especially if one has to grow up without both parents.
However, Saboti Member of Parliament, Caleb Amisi did not let a difficult upbringing define his life and future. Instead, his childhood has inspired him to help others in a similar situation.
On Wednesday 24 January, he narrated growing up without both of his parents after they passed away when he was only nine months old.
Amisi was raised by his grandmother whom he lauded for looking after him over the years. She, unfortunately, also passed away, leaving the MP alone.
He recalled having to walk seven kilometres to school without shoes. A trip he would take several times a day to drink water and if lucky, have a meal.
"I sometimes shed a tear whenever I remember how I used to trek barefoot a distance of seven kilometres, four times a day," the MP stated.
In the evening, young Amisi would graze his grandmother's three cows, two goats and a sheep.
Due to the family's financial constraints, Amisi visited Starehe Boys before seating for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2000 to appeal for a scholarship.
He sat for the exams and impressively scored 590 marks out of the possible 700. Amisi remarked that his record hasn't yet been broken, 24 years later.
Amisi was fortunate to join Starehe Boys due to his impeccable KCPE results.
"I went to Starehe Boys Centre with only a padlock. I wore my first shoes at Starehe and the rest is history," he stated.
After sharing his ups and downs, Amisi remarked that he was determined to improve the lives of children living in poverty in Saboti through the bursary program.
He called upon all residents to ensure they collected and filled out the bursary form applications for a chance to get funding for their education.
