When Hilary Kiplagat began his tertiary education, just like any other achiever he had in mind that it will not take long before he secures a white-collar job that will serve as a reprieve for his academic struggles.
He worked hard, studied smart, braved odd times and overcame all hurdles in his educational journey to the extent of earning a Master’s of Business Administration degree in procurement from the University of Nairobi.
However, the fruits of his labour are yet to come forth.
Unlike many masters graduate sitting in splendid offices of top companies you can imagine not only in Kenya but also all over the world, Kiplagat is braving the cold weather and the scorching heat of the sun at the dusty Torongo trading centre, in Eldama Ravine in Baringo County as a Boda Boda rider.
At Torongo trading centre, one can hardly differentiate the 32-year-old, with First Class Bachelor of Commerce degree in procurement and supply management, from a group of his colleagues who ostensibly never went beyond any secondary school.
His current routine, he says, is a pure contradiction of what any school-going child can imagine.
“Boda boda business is probably one of the most challenging jobs. I wake up at 5 am and sleep late in the night, yet I worked hard at university and got the best grades,” he sais as quoted by Daily Nation.
The stories of many graduates with outstanding qualifications have with no doubt rocked the nation in the recent time.
In February Ruth Chemutai Rono, the First Class Honours graduate from Baringo Central, shocked many when his story came to the limelight after her plight was highlighted on social media.
She was lucky she got a job.
In July, a similar story of Kelvin Ochieng kept tongues wagging on whether education was truly a key to success.
Years of his hard work topped with outstanding academic results proved less beneficial until he ended up on the streets homeless and jobless.
Thank God he also got a job.
With meagre earnings from Boda Boda business, what else can the man of Kiplagat’s calibre ask for than a well-wisher willing to offer him a job?
Here is video footage of his plea courtesy of Daily Nation: