From Pedals to IT Expert: The Story of Gedion Otieno

In the quiet village of Raliew, where dreams were often dimmed by hardship, Gedion Otieno carved out his future with determination and an old bicycle. Every morning for four years, he pedaled 10 kilometers to Raliew Secondary School, rain or shine. The bicycle rattled, and the brakes barely worked, but it carried the weight of a young boy’s ambition.

Gedion wore one school uniform from Form 1 to Form 4. His shoes had more holes than soles, and his books were either borrowed or handed down. There were long periods when he stayed home due to lack of school fees, watching classmates move ahead while he waited, hoping. School supplies that other students took for granted—textbooks, pens, even exam fees—were luxuries his parents could not afford. Yet he pressed on, not with complaints but with courage.

After completing his KCSE, Gedion’s journey didn’t ease up; it became even tougher. He joined Bondo Technical and Vocational College in Siaya County, Bondo Sub-county, where he began shaping his future in technology. For seven years, he studied—first for a Certificate in ICT, then a Diploma in ICT.

But those years were not easy. Gedion deferred his studies several times due to lack of fees. In one of his lowest moments, his landlord locked him out of his room and took all his belongings, including valuable tools and documents he never got back. With no other option, Gedion returned home and, once again, turned to his trusted bicycle.

This time, the journey was 11 kilometers one way. For a whole year, he cycled over 20 kilometers daily just to attend classes, fueled not by food or comfort, but by hope and purpose.

Many would have given up. Gedion didn't.

Today, Gedion Otieno is an IT expert at Rarieda Technical and Vocational College. He mentors others, repairs systems, and builds digital solutions. He is a living testament that success isn't found in easy places; it is earned with sweat and hard work.

From wearing one uniform for four years to being locked out and left with nothing, Gedion’s story is not just about survival. It’s about overcoming. It’s about faith, resilience, and vision. He is no longer the boy on a bicycle; he is now somebody, a role model, and a beacon of hope for every young person struggling to rise from hardship.

 

Gedion Otieno’s journey proves one thing clearly: you can come from nothing and still become everything you were meant to be.