Keiyo South Member of Parliament (MP) Gideon Kimaiyo’s story is one of resilience and determination, rising from humble beginnings to a position of influence and impact. 

Growing up in rural Kenya, Kimaiyo faced challenges that seemed insurmountable. However, his unwavering dedication to education and hard work set him on a remarkable path of transformation.

This article outlines how Kimaiyo overcame financial hurdles to become an MP and a scholar:

Early Life and Education

Growing up in Kaptarkok village, Kimaiyo excelled in academics despite persistent financial struggles. After completing primary school, he earned a place at Tambach High School, but school fees remained a major obstacle.

To support his education, his family organized a fundraiser before his high school admission. 

"On admission day, my father paid only Ksh 6,000. That was the only fee I paid while at Tambach. I dropped out in Form 3 due to financial difficulties. Those at Tambach will remember I was a top student, always among the top three out of 206 students," Kimaiyo recounted.

Determined to continue his education, Kimaiyo transferred to Kiptulos Day School. There, his father paid fees by supplying five litres of milk daily to the school.

"My school fees was five litres of milk," he said, highlighting his family’s sacrifices. Despite walking 10 kilometers daily to school, he completed his KCSE exams with a B plain of 66 points, just one point shy of the university entry grade of B+.

Struggles and Sacrifices

Failing to attain direct university entry, Kimaiyo decided to repeat Form Four but still faced financial constraints. Relatives made unfulfilled promises to support him, leaving him unable to register for KCSE multiple times.

In August 2005, he returned to Kaptarkok Primary School to teach for free. "The headteacher gave me Ksh 1,000 monthly from his pocket. My goal was to save money, go back to Form Three, and start afresh to qualify for university," Kimaiyo shared.

Joining College Against the Odds

In 2006, he applied to Utalii College for a diploma program and was admitted, but again lacked fees. Desperate, he lied on admission day, claiming his father’s bank account had issues.

"They gave me until Monday to report back. I camped at the National Assembly gate, hoping to meet our MP, the late Nicholas Biwott. After several days, Biwott gave me Ksh 35,000, which I used for my first term fees."

Despite reporting a month late, a kind admissions officer admitted him to a different course after hearing his story. With support from his family, he completed his diploma at Utalii College and earned an international IATA certification.

Career Breakthrough, Higher Education and Politics

After college, Kimaiyo worked for small companies but struggled to save enough for university. He applied for a scholarship to Finland’s Tempere University but received a life-changing job offer from Kenya Airways before his departure.

"This job transformed my life. With a good salary, I enrolled in Moi University for an undergraduate degree in Tourism Management, graduating in 2014," he said.

In 2015, he began a Master’s at Moi University. Still, he paused midway to pursue two additional master’s degrees: an MBA at the University of Nairobi and an MA in International Relations at USIU.

"I attended UoN classes on weekdays and USIU classes on Saturdays. I graduated with an MBA in 2016 and an MA in 2017," he revealed.

In 2018, Kimaiyo began his PhD in International Relations at the University of Nairobi while making his political debut. He successfully defended his PhD proposal and won the Keiyo South parliamentary seat in the August 2022 general election.

Amid his PhD research, he also completed his initial master’s degree at Moi University, graduating in December 2023. In 2024, after completing his thesis and publishing two academic articles, he defended his PhD and graduated in September 2024.

At age 37, Kimaiyo holds three master’s degrees, a PhD, and serves as a Member of Parliament, embodying resilience, hard work, and the power of education.