Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, aka Jateso, has challenged Salvation Army Kolanya Girls National School students to emulate his exploits and climb the ladder of success despite many difficulties.
Imwatok, who toured Busia County’s top school in national exams, Salvation Army Kolanya Girls National School, said he was born in Apatit village in Teso Central Sub-county before sitting for his KCPE, emerging top to earn a place at St Paul’s Amukura High School.
“With my father having no source of income, I failed to join the school. I enrolled at Eastleigh Secondary, trekking for 4kms to school and back, ” he told the students, teachers, and Board of Management.
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Jateso suffered a setback when his father died while he was in Form 2. However, that did not deter him from his pursuit of excellence. He successfully completed Form 3 before hell broke loose.
Imwatok said raising money to join Form Four was a tall order, forcing him to double-task by attending school during the day and becoming a night watchman to raise money for his school fees.
His efforts bore fruit when he joined Moi University after passing his “O” level exams with flying colors.
“My decision to tell my story is meant to inspire you to achieve academic excellence so that you can be like me,” Imwatok told the 1187 students of the school, who cheered Jateso as he narrated the challenges he underwent.
The leader of the Majority said that becoming number one in Busia in 2024 KCSE and number five in Western Kenya is no mean achievement.
Top performers
“I want you to retain that position in this year’s exams, and I will sponsor top performers and the teaching fraternity for a trip to Dubai to celebrate the unachievable performance,” he said, adding that he was also overwhelmed by Teso North Sub-county’s performance, which catapulted it from number 10 to position one in the county.
In a show of his love for the school, Jateso, who jetted back from Ethiopia, where elections for AUC will be held on February 15, 2025, joined the students led by Chief Principal Dr Tabitha Okama in celebrating the school’s 40th anniversary.
Form two student Vallary Blessing cried joy today as she coincidentally marked her birthday. She joined Imwatok in a jig to mark their birthdays.
The school will celebrate its exemplary performance on March 7, 2025. Imwatok donated a bull, 25 bales of wheat and maize flour, 1300 sanitary pads, and a similar number of bread and sodas to boost the students’ morale.
Those who accompanied the majority leader included County CEC for strategic partnership Douglas Okiring, Angurai East MCA David Parapara, 2022 Busia woman rep aspirant Evelyn Ikwii, former Amukura Central MCA Mose Baaba, ODM Teso North Secretary David Oroni Masake, organising Secretary William Kaguru, and Teso North Sub-county director of education Elizabeth Marangach.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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