It’s a tale of resilience as tout, driver finds his way to the Bar

Sheer grit and a never-say-die attitude barely describe the life of Kiprop Chebon, 28, who defied huge setbacks—being orphaned and dropping out of school—to achieve his dream of becoming a lawyer. 

Kiprop, then 15, had just been admitted to Njoro Boys High School in Form One when his mother, Milka Chebon, passed on, throwing his young life into a bottomless pit of darkness given his father, Wilson Chebon, had departed earlier.

And, that is how he landed in the public service vehicle industry, first as a tout and then as a conductor before he graduated as a driver plying the Kabarnet-Nakuru route.

“The death of my mother was the beginning of my troubles,” he said.

 “I had just joined form one when she passed on and from then I couldn’t stay in school because of fees-related issues and lack of upkeep back at home,” the young soft spoken lawyer said.

Explaining his long and bumpy journey in pursuit of his dream during his homecoming ceremony in Mogotio last Saturday, Kiprop attributed his achievement to the support offered by his community; and above all, God’s favour upon him.

 He said that his mother operated a small hotel in the town which unfortunately collapsed after she died. “That was how I found myself in the matatu stage but in 2011, I felt I needed to go back to school and pursue my dream,” he said.

 “I went to a school within Baringo County and tried to get an admission but the principal was adamant that he was not going to admit somebody who was working in the chaotic matatu industry,” he said.

 “He was adamant. He told me point blank that he was not going to offer me a place at the school arguing that I would be a bad influence on the students because of my background as a tout. It was such a big blow for me,” he added.

Demoralising

 The principal told Kiprop that said people who work in the matatu sector were of bad conduct and ill-discipline adding that they constantly abuse drugs, alcohol and hard substances.

He also claimed that matatu operators use vulgar language and can even incite students to burn the school. Kiprop was devastated by the stereotypical behaviour.

 “It was so demoralising because I was not that kind of a person. I just wanted a second chance but he denied me that second chance,” the fourth-born, recalled.

 Not one to give up easily, Kiprop said that he then approached Magdaline Chemirmir, a retired teacher and proprietor of one of the oldest private schools in Mogotio—Kiram Academy—for advice.

 “She spoke to the then Principal of Kabimoi Secondary School, Daniel Chelule who gave me a chance to return to class. I will forever be indebted to them because they gave me a second chance in life,” he said.

 He sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and attained the grade to join the university and with the help of well-wishers, his dream soon became a reality. After his undergraduate, he further narrates, he went back to the matatu stage to eke a living while also making small savings trying to attain his dream.

 “While doing my undergraduate studies at Kabarak University, I used to go the stage when my schedule was not tight and do what we called ‘squad’ just to get something to survive by.

I had a burning desire to join Kenya School of Law and in 2020, I had saved Sh20, 000 and out of my boldness I went to Nairobi to see the KSL Principal Henry Mutai.

I told him this is the amount of money I had but he told me the minimum required was Sh80, 000,” he said.

Deffered studies

However, he says the KSL principal asked him to push his desire to join the institution by a year where hopefully the conversation between the institution and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) would have borne fruit. And after a year he tried again and succeeded.

 “It took me about 10 years to be admitted to the Bar because I deferred my studies several times because of lack of fees. It has been a long journey (2013-2019) but here we are finally.

I did not lose focus. I stayed very focus keeping my focus on my goal of being an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. I am very happy because I have seen the fruits of perseverance and being resilient, nothing comes easy in this life.

I would like to challenge my fellow youth that every time you find yourself in an environment that is not friendly, be flexible. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I know many youth are suffering inside but I would like to encourage them that tomorrow is better than today.

They should be inspired by my story, you can imagine a 15-year old you have no parent and no one to take care of your daily upkeep. I was still a minor but I survived and here I am now and I am very grateful to God,” he reminisced.

 He is elated by the achievements and even happier that his colleagues in the matatu industry are celebrating his win.

“I wish people could change people’s perception about matatu operators because majority of them are good.

This is the first thing that I have celebrated in life, I have never celebrated anything else, even simple things like birthdays that I see people celebrating so this is a very big day for me.

“I have to commemorate this. I celebrate my community too and thank God for everything,”

This is manifestation of the presence of God in my life, he said, his face glowing with joy and satisfaction. “I hope to help enhance access to justice especially for the downtrodden,” he said.

His achievements have earned him praise from his former colleagues at the matatu terminus, neighbourhood and legal fraternity. “He has done an amazing thing and we are so proud of him,” said Kiprop Songok, an Eldoret based lawyer.

Efforts

 “I knew his mother well. She was a very kind woman who worked hard to fend for her children and when heard that Kiprop was no longer going to school I felt very sad and together with friends when initiated the process to get him back to class,” said Christine Ndoigo. 

  “I am very happy because our efforts paid off and we’re here today to celebrate him,” she said.

 On Saturday, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Erick Theuri joined local leaders and the community in the celebration that was dominated by song and dance as speaker after speaker hailed the 28-year old for his resilience.

 “Congratulations to you and as they say to whom much is given much is expect but I have no doubt that you’ll excel in your career, you have seen that your community has a lot of hopes in you,” LSK President said. 

“My biggest reason of coming here is to celebrate humanity because it is because of love of humanity that we are here today—to celebrate—and, I want to thank the community and the group of lawyers and well-wishers who held his hand,” he said.