Fisherman turned sub-chief bags first-class degree

By Daniel Psirmoi

When he failed to attain the entry points to join university some 23 years ago, he thought that would be the end of his academic journey. But as he received the “power to read” two weeks ago, the assistant chief affirmed that where there is a will, there is always a way.

His has been a tough journey.

Michael Ang’anyo was at some point just a fisherman in Kakrigu Village in Mfangano  Island, Homabay County.

The 40-year-old man who graduated with a first-class  honours degree, attributes his stellar performance to discipline, hardwork, and to a large extent, the long-winding path he took amidst a myriad of challenges to realise his dream.

“In 1990 I dropped out of  Isebania High  School during the first term in my final year  due to lack of school fees. I only went back to school two weeks before the start of the national examinations after one of my teachers who had been touched by my plight decided to pay the exam fees for me,” says Angany’o, who reckons that he is humbled by the circumstances surrounding his success.

 As expected, he did not perform well enough as he had envisioned because of the long absence from school when the results were released, but that did not deter him.

“After seeing my classmates, some of who I used to beat in class had performed better than I did and even joined university, I never gave up. I always dreamt of reconstructing my history,” he recalls.

He became a fisherman, the only viable economic activity in his island home in Lake Victoria for five years, after which he got a scholarship to study for a certificate in agro-forestry at  the Kenya Forestry Institute in Londiani, through  a local NGO he was working with as a volunteer.

In the three years he was at the institution, he emerged the best student and even became a student leader. Bad luck would strike again, after they were informed during their graduation that there were no employment vacancies in the government.

“I had dreamt of landing a good job after my studies as previous graduates from the school used to get their employment letters immediately they graduated. But that did not happen.  With nothing to do, I went back to fishing in my village to support my younger siblings,” he says.

In 2002, a vacancy of an assistant chief arose in his sub-location, after the previous holder of the job passed away.  He reluctantly sent his application letter after being prevailed upon by many people in his village to give the job a try. He got the job with the provincial administration  in July that year.

The change in fortune for the fishmonger turned administrator, apart from making life easier for the first-born in a family of 12 , who was the  breadwinner,   reignited  the desire in him to further his education.

Ang’anyo joined Moi University for a diploma in public administration course in 2008 as a privately sponsored student where he again emerged the best student, after he got a distinction.

He was given a partial scholarship, as a mature entrant into the university for a degree in political science and public administration in 2009. This is the discipline in which he graduated a fortnight ago.

 “As his lecturer from the time he started his diploma and now that he is through with his first degree, I attribute his success to discipline, humility and sheer hard work. A very focused fellow who is ready to explore any academic frontier,” says Wenani Kilong’i , a senior lecturer in the Department Of Political Science and Public Administration at the university.

Ang’anyo, who has already enrolled for a master’s degree in the same university says his wife, Nancy Awuonda, a primary school teacher,  is his greatest inspiration.

“She agreed to marry  me when I was a fisherman despite her being a teacher. She has stood by me and most importantly recognised my potential and kept encouraging me to further my studies,” says Ang’anyo about the mother of his five children.

He says he plans to pen a biography once he is through with his master’s to inspire other people.