A young man in Nakuru County has defied all odds to win an online competition dubbed ‘ponyoka na tuktuk’ initiated by East African Young Innovators (EAYI); a non-governmental institution based in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking in Nakuru town on Friday after receiving his award from the organisations leadership, Brian Ochieng’ from Kuresoi North expressed his gratitude saying it was a dream come true.
The Education third year student at Moi University in Eldoret who has taken a one year deferral because of fee challenges said he learnt about the competition from a friend who owns a cybercafe in Nakuru town.
“The competition was about writing a business proposal that would earn you the prize. It was online and open to youths who were out of school but doing nothing,” he said.
According to EAYI country coordinator Mathias Kinotu, the four-month competition has seen more than 30 young people receive tuktuks and motorcycles in all their mother countries saying their aim is to use self-driven ideas in ensuring young people become self-reliant.
“A personally written idea gives the exact impression of who you are, that is why we chose to launch an online competition where young innovators can tell us how best they can transform the society if given an investment opportunity,” he explained, adding that the winners were chosen from a panel of experts from all the regions.
Brian hopes to use the small savings from the investment to go back to school next academic yea,r further advising fellow youth to make positive use of the internet.
“Let’s not just Facebook, WhatsApp and tweet while online, we have very many opportunities that come by which if well utilized, can change your life for the better,” he advised.
After his parents succumbed to HIV four years ago, Brian has taken up the initiative of taking care of his younger sister who is in class seven through the support of friends and relatives and hopes to achieve his dreams.