In a powerful full-circle moment, Nathaniel Odongo Owino has officially graduated from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Norway.

The milestone brings to a close a remarkable academic journey that began with unimaginable hardship and countless setbacks in rural Kenya.

In an exclusive interview with , Nathaniel narrated that his story is not one of straight A’s or smooth transitions.

It is a tale of persistence, humility, and the unwavering belief that one’s beginning does not dictate their destiny.

His education began in 1999 at Sony Primary School, the same year he tragically lost his mother. Following the loss, he was moved to the village to live with his grandmother.

The new arrangement came with emotional and financial turmoil, especially after his father remarried.

What followed were years of inconsistent schooling. Lacking school fees and basic supplies, Nathaniel was often forced to stay home.

His primary school journey stretched far longer than usual, as he repeated several classes—Class 3 (2002–2003), Class 4 (2004–2005), and Class 5 (2006–2007).

He finally sat for his KCPE in 2010 and scored 267 marks, a score that did not go well with his father.

Citing poor performance and a lack of funds, his dad refused to send him to high school and demanded he repeat Class 8. Nathaniel refused.

In 2011, a breakthrough came when he was accepted into Ongalo Mixed Secondary School. However, the hope was short-lived.

Fee struggles re-emerged, and his father was only able to sell their last goat in an effort to keep him in school.

Still, it wasn’t enough. Rather than drop out completely, Nathaniel made the bold choice to return to Class 7 in primary school.

"I was looking to buy time and avoid the stress of being a candidate to give my older sister a chance to finish Form Four," he narrated.

That selfless decision eventually bore fruit. Nathaniel won a scholarship to Orero Boys High School, where he finally experienced academic stability.

His performance earned him admission to Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).

Joining campus empty-handed, he benefited from a constituency bursary fund facilitated by his area MP, Hon. Adipo Okuome.

At MMUST, Nathaniel’s leadership potential quickly shone through. He was elected a student leader in his first year. However, his activism led to further adversity.

During a student strike protesting harsh administrative policies on fee deadlines, he and other vocal leaders were suspended for two academic years.

While many would have given up, Nathaniel saw opportunity in adversity. During his suspension, he applied for and secured a scholarship to study abroad.

The defining turn in his life was when he was awarded the scholarship from the Kenya Self-Help Project (KSHP).

Now, clad in his graduation gown and with a degree in hand, Nathaniel reflects on his journey with pride and humility.

“Every delay, every tear, every repeated class led me here,” he said. “It wasn’t about how fast I finished, but that I finished at all.”

His story is not just an inspiration, but a call to never give up, no matter how bleak the path may seem.

Source: TUKO.co.ke