Kisumu Man With Welding Certificates Says Family Wrangles Pushed Him To Nairobi Streets: "It's Cold"

• The loss of his parents and heated family wrangles saw Oliver Ochieng leave his home in Wasare, Kisumu county
• Ochieng revealed to TUKO.co.ke that he has been living in the streets after efforts to find a job opportunity and income to take care of his needs failed to bear fruit
• Despite dropping out of primary school, Ochieng is a certified electric, gas and ARC welder and is seeking an opportunity to work

As heavy rainfall continues to pound most of the country, Nairobi has not been spared from the effects of the weather.

Floods impact on Nairobi Street families

Thousands have been displaced, especially in slum areas like Mathare, Kibra, and Mukuru Kwa Njenga.

However, street families are some of the most affected groups and have not received wide attention.

One of the homeless Kenyans in Nairobi told TUKO.co.ke that the rainfall has worsened their already difficult living conditions.

"It's cold out here, and even places we used to sleep, like Green Park and parts of the city streets, are waterlogged," said Oliver Ochieng, who has been living in Nairobi streets for over five months.

He said that the rains have also hindered the jobs he used to do, like picking up plastics for sale, making getting food difficult.

Reasons for dropping out of school

On Sunday, April 28, Ochieng disclosed to TUKO.co.ke that his native home is North Nyakach

The 28-year-old, who dropped out of school in Standard Six after losing both parents and a younger sister, grew up with little to no support from family, and this pushed him to the streets early in life.

Ochieng was optimistic about turning his life around despite being in the streets.

His talent in football helped him get a scholarship from African Inland Church, Diguna Rainbow Polytechnic in Kisumu.

Welding courses in Kenya

TUKO.co.ke established that Ochieng is trained as a welder and has Electric Welder and Gas Welder Grade 3 certificates and a Grade 2 ARC Welder certificate.

He attained these academic credentials between 2014 and 2016, courtesy of his talent in football.

After leaving the institution, Ochieng, now bestowed with his first and only academic credentials, having dropped out of primary school, began looking for jobs in vain.

After trying to settle at his parents' home in vain due to family fights that would turn ugly, Ochieng moved to the streets, first in Kisumu, then Nairobi.

Church support for Nairobi street families

On this day, Ochieng joined a congregation at Worship Harvest, Nairobi, for fellowship.

"It's been three weeks since I was invited to church, and I voluntarily gave my life to Jesus. My desire was to live a life of honesty. The streets had made me a thief, but I chose change, and coming to church is helping me feel appreciated and valuable," he confessed.

He said he had seen a lot of his peers being killed over theft and mugging people, and he was afraid that, once in the streets, he would automatically become a suspect of crime despite reforming.

Welding job opportunities in Kenya

"It's cold and risky out here. I ask for help to begin life afresh, and I appeal to anyone who finds my skills useful to give me an opportunity to work so that I can get out of the streets and fend for myself. I'll need a few days to revive my expertise," he said.

He promised to be diligent and excellent at his job and hopes to help his peers on the streets leave risky lives and build something for themselves.

TUKO.co.ke highlighted how the metal fabrication industry in Kenya was lucrative, and welders earned better than many white-collar employees.

A woman from Homa Bay also narrated how starting a welding job after losing employment turned her life around for the better.