Kisumu man with welding certificates says family feud pushed him to Nairobi streets: “It’s cold”

• The loss of his parents and heated family feuds forced Oliver Ochieng to leave his home in Wasare, Kisumu Province
• He has been living on the streets after attempts to find a job and an income to meet his needs were unsuccessful
• Despite dropping out of primary school, Ochieng is a certified welder for electricity, gas and arc welding and is looking for an opportunity to work

As heavy rains continue to lash most of the country, Nairobi has not been spared from the weather’s effects.

Floods impact families on Nairobi Street

Thousands have been displaced, especially in slums such as Mathare, Kibra and Mukuru Kwa Njenga.

However, street families are among the most affected groups and have not received much attention.

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One of the homeless Kenyans in Nairobi told TUKO.co.ke that the rains have worsened their already difficult living conditions.

“It’s cold here and even places where we slept, like Green Park and parts of the city streets, are waterlogged,” said Oliver Ochieng, who has lived on the streets of Nairobi for more than five months.

He said the rain also hampered tasks he used to do, such as collecting plastic for sale, making it difficult to get food.

Reasons to leave school

There are days when I go hungry unless a benefactor comes along for me.

On Sunday, April 28, Ochieng revealed to TUKO.co.ke that his birthplace is North Nyakach

The 28-year-old, who left school in Standard Six after losing both his parents and a younger sister, grew up with little to no support from his family, and this took him onto the streets early in his life.

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Ochieng was optimistic about turning his life around despite being on the streets.

His football talent helped him get a scholarship from the African Inland Church, Diguna Rainbow Polytechnic in Kisumu.

Welding courses in Kenya

TUKO.co.ke has established that Ochieng is trained as a welder and holds Electric Welder and Gas Welder Grade 3 certificates, as well as a Grade 2 ARC Welder certificate.

He obtained these academic qualifications between 2014 and 2016, thanks to his talent in football.

After leaving the institution, Ochieng, who had now received his first and only academic qualifications after leaving primary school, began looking for jobs in vain.

After unsuccessfully trying to settle in his parents’ house due to family disputes that would turn ugly, Ochieng moved onto the streets, first in Kisumu and then in Nairobi.

Church support for street families in Nairobi

On this day, Ochieng joined a congregation in Worship Harvest, Nairobi, for fellowship, which enabled him to obtain decent clothes and shoes.

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“It’s been three weeks since I was invited to church, and I voluntarily gave my life to Jesus. My desire was to live an honest life. The streets had made me a thief, but I chose change, and going to church helps me feel valued and valuable,” he admitted.

He said he had seen many of his peers killed for theft and robbery, and he feared that once on the streets, he would automatically become a crime suspect despite reforms.

Welding Jobs in Kenya

‘It’s cold and risky here. I am asking for help to start a new life, and I am appealing to anyone who finds my skills useful to give me the opportunity to work so that I can get off the streets and provide for myself.’ I need a few days to revive my expertise,” he said.

He vowed to be diligent and excellent at his work and hopes to help his peers on the streets leave a risky life behind and build something for themselves.

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TUKO.co.ke highlighted how Kenya’s metalworking industry was lucrative and welders earned better than many white-collar workers.

A Homa Bay woman also shared how starting a welding job after losing her job changed her life for the better.

Source: TUKO.co.ke