Vihiga Man Who Cooked Chapatis For People To Earn Living Rises To High-Profile Gov't Officer

• When Victor Ijaika lost his parents at a young age, he did odd jobs to take care of the household he'd been left in charge
• He cooked chapati for clients in the village and acted in set books in secondary schools through a theatre group he formed called X-Posha
• Ijaika was able to go back to college, acquire a degree in Diplomacy and International Relations, and get a lucrative government job

Victor Ijaika Bulemi lost his mother while in Class 8 and his dad shortly after high school, setting him up for a harsh world as an orphan.

Forced to head his late parents' home at a young age, he tried his hand at several odd jobs, including cooking chapati for clients.

Ijaika did odd jobs

He told TUKO.co.ke that cooking was a hustle that didn't pay well, given that parties and chapati meals in families were far and wide back then.

It forced him to reconsider his approach to making ends meet, so he started a theatre group called X-Posha.

"I assembled a group of young jobless men and women with whom we would act set books in secondary schools and get paid some little money," he stated.

Ijaika says he used theatre to push for changes, and his consistency paid off as he started getting more invites across the country.

Went back to school

Despite not having formal training, he taught himself how to write proposals for funding to sustain his community-driven initiatives.

"I was doing it majorly as a survival mechanism and got sponsors for my projects, especially in health," he recalled.

Meanwhile, he pursued a diploma in clearing and forwarding but didn't do much with it because there was too much on his plate.

In 2009, Ijaika returned to college and earned a Certified Professional Secretary diploma from the Kenya College Of Accountancy.

This was followed by a Diplomacy and International Relations degree from the University of Nairobi, marking a significant milestone in his personal and professional development.

Turning point

The turning point in his life came when the people of Lugaga Wamuluma urged him to enter the political arena.

He became a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in 2017, where he continued his advocacy for positive change and community development.

After serving one term, he ditched politics and ventured into peacebuilding, a shift that saw him become a Principal Officer in the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

He is currently among the officers working round the clock to foster peace and silence the guns in the volatile areas of Rift Valley.

His journey from humble beginnings is a testament to the idea that limitless possibilities abound where there is resilience and a commitment to one's ideals.

Beryl Wanga's inspiring story

Elsewhere, those who enjoy reading Beryl Wanga's long and engaging articles have no idea she was once a struggling student in English.

Her inspiration to do better came from a deskmate named Nicky Patel, who was so fluent that she felt challenged.

Beryl embarked on a journey of transformation that saw her read every writing she saw, setting in motion a chain of events that turned her into the best student.