Choosing Integrity

Amos’ story can be traced back to the sugarcane fields, where as a young farm boy he worked under the sun to earn a meal and keep his dream alive. Long before lecture halls and national handball finals, Amos learned responsibility early, balancing schoolwork with manual labor, not out of choice, but necessity. Each day of work was a quiet commitment to a future he could not yet see, but deeply believed in.

Born in 2004 as the fourth child in a family of seven, Amos grew up in a household shaped by resilience and scarcity. His father worked at a highland company while his mother sold food within the premises. Life was modest but hopeful until a family crisis in 2009 forced both parents to leave their jobs and invest their limited savings in a small piece of land in Kitale. The transition plunged the family into deeper financial strain, and Amos often stayed out of school to care for younger siblings or assist his mother in small income generating activities.

In 2017, Amos discovered handball an unexpected lifeline. Encouraged by his deputy head teacher, he joined the school team and quickly stood out. Although he scored low on his national high school examinations, below the threshold for many scholarship opportunities, his discipline in sport opened doors. He was eventually admitted to a Nairobi high school, a turning point that allowed him to continue his education.

High school life demanded sacrifice. Amos worked cutting sugarcane and cleaning the school dining hall in exchange for meals. He carefully saved small amounts from daily wages to cover transport and basic school needs. Despite ridicule from peers and pressure to engage in dishonest shortcuts, he chose integrity, remaining focused on both his studies and character.

His commitment paid off. Amos became a key player in his school’s handball team, helping them advance to national competitions. University, however, came with fresh challenges, particularly accommodation and cost-sharing. Today, Amos shares a single room with five other students outside Daystar University, an arrangement that allows him to continue studies and athletic training.

Currently, Amos is a student at Daystar University with a GPA of 3.30. He is enrolled in the university’s work-study program, gaining hands-on experience while supporting his tuition and daily needs. On the court, his handball team has reached the national finals for two consecutive seasons, earning recognition as one of the most competitive university teams in Kenya.

What defines Amos is not just survival, but quiet resolve. He is deliberate, disciplined, and deeply grounded in values shaped by hardship. His ambition is practical and selfless: to acquire skills that will stabilize his family, uplift his community, and prove that dignity, consistency, and honest effort can rewrite even the most difficult beginnings.