A philanthropic teacher who secured a Jubilee ticket in Elgeyo Marakwet

A young teacher in Elgeyo Marakwet County with a humble background surprised many after winning in Jubilee Party nominations.

Jonah Kipkorir Tanui won in the nominations to lead Soy South Ward in Elgeyo Marakwet.

The electorate nicknamed him Sinai and he attributes his victory to his teaching profession characterised by academic merits.

The bachelor of education science graduate from Maseno University was employed by the Teachers Service Commission in 2009 at Moi Kapcherop Girls Secondary School in Marakwet West Sub-county.

He was elected as the Sub-County Science Congress Treasurer up to 2010 after which he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of Engineering Fairs and the county organizing Secretary in 2010, a positions he held for six years.

The information and computer technology wizard used the knowledge to improve his favorite teaching subjects, Biology and chemistry. His school was awarded for being the best District school in Chemistry.

This move landed him a contract as a national marker of chemistry paper 3 from the year 2013-2016.

"I was also selected to be the trainer for the Digital Literacy Programme launched in 2014 by the government of Kenya," he added.

The MCA nominee was contracted to do a strategic plan for school improvement of six primary schools in the county which all won and now benefiting from the World Bank-sponsored project.

“I have achieved my personal target in education and now I am joining politics to activate community service delivery,” he said.

He added that he will empower teachers in schools through capacity building, equipment support as well support technical education initiatives to tap and exploit talents in schools.

His success has been linked to his charitable nature of using his salary to pay school fees for needy students and setting up community-based projects in his area to assist the locals.

He says that in his area, a few scholars have managed to do costly courses like Medicine, Engineering and Law hence he will table a bill which seeks to sponsor such students who are bright but needy.

The former teacher said that apart from using his salary to educate students, he has initiated projects like buying computers and providing internet services to the people in his area whereby he set up a computer school which has so far benefited 80 students.

The father of two has employed four youth who provide community service at Sinai Digital Solutions Limited and eight youth who distribute D-Light solar.

Meanwhile, he has hinted that he will continue creating an enabling environment and employment opportunities for youth.