This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
Published on October 28, 2019, Ronnie Osumba's life took a dramatic turn when he chose to be Peter Kenneth's running mate in the March 2013 Presidential elections.
Although the move didn't yield the desired results, Osumba has since reflected on the experience, admitting that it didn't work out well.
He also revealed that the decision had a significant impact on his marriage to his wife Vera, which they are still working to salvage.
Osumba, a father of two, shared his story at Engage, a platform that provides opportunities for ordinary and extraordinary people to inform, inspire, and influence.
He narrated how life changed after he received the call that ushered him into politics, leaving behind a comfortable job at Safaricom.
His wife Vera had warned him that their lives should not change, but they did, and Osumba's prospects were not great after the failed presidential bid.
He recalled the devastating feeling of defeat, saying, 'It was another spectacular failure and I was crushed.'
After conceding defeat, Osumba found himself jobless and desperate, but he eventually received a lifeline when the late Bob Collymore, then CEO of Safaricom, replied to his tweet with words of encouragement.
Collymore's message, 'You do know you have your return ticket,' turned out to be a turning point for Osumba, who was back at his desk two weeks later.
He went on to set up Onwards Kenya and later accepted a position as Head of Public Sector at Oracle Corporation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta later appointed him as the chairman of the Youth Advisory Board and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, a position he says he did not apply for.
Osumba has learned valuable lessons from his journey, saying, 'Life is not a stage, life is a war made up of many battles; you win some, you lose some.'
He is still battling his own wars, including his marriage, finances, health, and career, but he has come to love his battle scars as his badge of honour.
