May 31, 2023

Barely 20 she has traversed the World playing golf. Kenya’s main stream newspaper sports’ Editors have written big headlines about her. She is a student at The Co-operative University of Kenya, 1st year pursuing Diploma in Public Relations. Golf. To some rural folk is a game hard to comprehend especially at a tender age in a typical African village. Aisha may never have dreamt she Could fly high especially looking atherhumble background and the bankrolling that Goes with the game. But what exactly motivates one to make daring attempts? To make big leap forwards in life? The story of a one young Aisha from the precincts of Isiolo can only be told back to back to roll over this rather big life dream come true. She believed she could, so she did! Doing it since she was age 9, Aisha Duba Halake Is a master at playing golf? A Little girl’s normal life changes when the Kenya’s first lady golfer Rose Naliaka was scouting for young golfers as an initiative to giving back to society and girl-child empowerment. Knowing nothing about golf, Aisha was at first hesitant as she knew that it was a sport for the high, mighty and opulent in society which she definitely was not. “When Rose visited our school, Jamhuri Primary, it came as a surprise that she was looking for young girls whom she would sponsors and provide equipment for as they start      their     golfing journey,” Aisha recalls. Grabbing the opportunity with both hand and not letting go to date, Aisha believed that Rose was God sent.   That How her journey began. She tells me that she has played almost all her life since she started when she was standard four pupil at Jamhuri Primary School in Parklands. She did Her basics at Kenya Science Golf Course with the help of other golf coaches. “It was very encouraging to find people who   were very supportive and encouraged me to play on at the golf courses,” says Aisha. Her passion for the game has enabled Aisha travel far and wide to play golf all around the world. ”I have played in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,       Tunisia,       Malawi, Manchester, Sydney and a lot of golf courses within the country,” recalls Aisha Coming from a humble background, it was not easy for her parents to provide transport for her and at some point suggested she abandon the sport. She did not play most of her high school years because of her studies. “When I joined secondary school I stopped playing because it was hard for me to juggle between school and playing. I started playing again this year.” She says. She thanks God that she came across such an opportunity which has taught her a number of life lessons which she says she could not have known if it were not for the opportunity given to her. She says that the government support has also been overwhelming especially when they are going out there to represent the country. She concludes by encouraging other young ladies not to shy away from their talents and want they love to do. “When you fall, stand up,     dust “It was very Encouraging to find people who were very supportive and encouraged me to play on at the golf courses,”   Yourself and move on that’s the only way to reach your goal,” that is Aisha’s word of encouragement to everyone out there.

Growing up in the ghetto, one has two choices; use your talent or get recruited into a gang.” Says Mukigi. A young man who has met with the rules and life of a ghetto head-on. Fought to be where he is, occupied his space and stood with his head high. Fate and luck, both crisscrossing his path of life. Lucky he. A man must live. For Mukigi Kenneth, he chose to use his talent for good. The 3rd year student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Cooperative Business at The Co-operative university of Kenya, unfortunately dropped out of school with his story untold in April 2015. “When I joined the University in 2013, I was very excited knowing that I would finally accomplish my dreams of being an entrepreneur, but that was slowly fading away” Mukigi recalls. He knew he had to use his talent in art to make money which would come in handy to paying his tuition fees   at the University. Good in writing, a poet, the University noticed him and was taken in as one of the Library Knowledge ambassadors. Promising his parents that he would be the one to pay his own fees, Kenneth had to think fast as he was out of school and missing out on a lot of school work. “Knowing Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki encouraged talent, I did my research about his show and everything that one had to know about him because I knew he was the man to help me,” he explains. His passion for making portraits with beads was his driving force. After making a portrait on the Churchill show he was turned down but told  to do something better. “I did not take that as a disappointment but a challenge to make something that wows Churchill,” he says smiling. Challenge accepted, Kenneth was able to please Churchill and got an opportunity to present his portrait to him on a stage he had never thought he’d ever stand on; the Churchill show. Thrilled by the life story of Mukigi and his amazing talent, the former VP of the republic of Kenya offered to pay school fees for Mr. Mukigi in his subsequent year at the university as Churchill paid off his annual fee forthwith. Mr. Mukigi’s joy remains epic. “Others would call it coincidence but I call it miracle. After the meeting, both Churchill and Hon. Musyoka said that they would pay all of my tuition fees until I graduate.” Kenneth says with a lot of enthusiasm as he is now back in school. Kenneth Mukigi advices the youths and fellow students not to sit on their talents and use them for good by quoting Leo Buscaglia; “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”