This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
From Politics to Resilience ¶
When Ronnie Osumba chose to be Peter Kenneth's running mate in the 2013 Presidential elections, little was known about him. However, the move ultimately didn't work out as planned.
Published on October 28, 2019, Osumba shared his story of resilience and perseverance at Engage, a platform that provides a space for ordinary and extraordinary people to inform, inspire, and influence.
He narrated how life changed after he got 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.
"We lost. I had gotten involved in politics and we had failed. My prospects were also not great," Osumba recalled.
After conceding defeat, Osumba's life took a drastic turn. He was now out of a job and desperate, but a tweet he posted turned into a lifeline for him. He received hundreds of encouragement from Kenyans, including a reply from the late Bob Collymore, who offered him a return ticket to Safaricom.
Two weeks later, Osumba was back at his desk. He later set up an organisation called Onwards Kenya and was offered a position as Head of Public Sector at Oracle Corporation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta then appointed him as the chairman of the Youth Advisory Board, a position he didn't apply for. He was later appointed to chair the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, which he accepted.
"I have learned a lot through my journey, that life is not a stage, life is a war made up of many battles; you win some, you lose some," Osumba said.
He admitted that he is still battling his own wars, including his marriage, finances, health, and career. However, he has come to love his battle scars, which he sees as his badge of honour.
