Kenya’s new ambassador to Egypt Fred Outa says his life journey has been an interesting one, having come from a poor background.
He shared his heartfelt story on TV47’s Mfahamu Kiongozi show hosted by senior anchor Elizabeth Mutuku every Thursday at 7:30pm.
“Life was unkind in my childhood, if I may use that word. Very unfortunately, I was I think two years when my mum passed away. Growing up in a Christian home where my mum and dad were very committed to God, it was beautiful.
“I was the last born and my siblings were much older. My dad decided to take care of me although it was very hard without my mum. He was really committed to serve God so he believed that he would never re-marry,” Outa narrated.
Years later, the ambassador lost his father too, and was rendered a total orphan.
Much as his relatives sympathized with him and his siblings, Fred Outa says he did not receive the care he hoped for.
“You come in with a good heart that these are my relatives so I can just live with them, but deep down in their hearts you are not welcome in their homes. It is like you are invading their space because they do not have a budget for you,” he added.
Transitioning to high school became even more difficult as his family could not support him financially.
“Once my dad died, all these things we considered as wealth such as livestock went away. My siblings (sisters) got married and they were now focusing on their families. After attaining good grades to go to high school no one would help me.
“The school I was supposed to join I could not join. I went there with my letter and the principal asked me where was the money and I had no answer. I attended around six high schools before I finished Form Four.”
A ray of light struck in his life towards the end of Form Three when Outa received a sponsor, and got though his final year without any financial difficulties.
However, having undergone so many challenges as a child, the ambassador says he never dreamed big. All he wanted after high school was a job to sustain himself.
“In my mind I was just working hard to finish school and become a school teacher. I ended up taking my ID even before completing high school because I was so ready to begin work immediately after school.
“I went to knock those offices so many times seeking a teaching job but it never worked out. Years later my sponsor took me to Day Star University for further studies. I did not even complete my first semester because I went to New York where I now completed my studies.”
Fourteen years later, he returned to Kenya and began several community projects which unknowingly propelled him into politics.
Fred Outa was first elected as a member of Parliament where he served for 10 years prior to election as Kisumu Senator in 2017.
In a Gazette notice in May 2024, President William appointed Outa as Kenya’s ambassador to Egypt, where he will serve for four years.
