They say age is just but a number. If this phrase did not mean anything to you, perhaps it will be at the end of this story about Judith Akoth.
Akoth was born in October 1984, and since then she has faced adversity from the start.
“At the tender age of seven, I lost my father, and at 10, my mother also died, leaving me orphaned and under the care of my maternal grandparents,” she narrates.
Despite the challenges, the 39-year-old showed promise academically, ranking as the 3rd best in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam in 1998.
Although she faced financial constraints that led her to attend multiple-day schools, she persevered.
“My resilience led me to complete my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2002, where I earned a B-,” Akoth said.
But when she thought her worst days were over, life took another challenging turn when her diabetic grandmother passed away. This forced her into an early marriage at the age of 18, due to lack of accommodation.
Hope at last
Amid life’s hardships, a glimmer of hope emerged in 2019.
While nursing her sick aunt, she encountered a kind soul who recognized her potential.
“Despite being a peasant farmer, he saw a nurse in me,” notes Akoth.
Encouraged by his words, she took a leap of faith and joined KMTC Siaya Campus in March 2020.
But the journey was far from easy, especially with opposition from her family and a significant ankle injury in January this year.
Just two months away from her Final Qualifying Exams, she received the devastating news of her husband’s passing on while she was on rural placement.
“The world seemed to crumble around me, but I refused to be broken,” notes the 39-year-old.
“I stand here today as a testament to the strength of a determined heart. Age, I’ve learned, is merely a number,” she adds.
At 39, Judith Akoth has finally earned her diploma, and she says her journey doesn’t end here.
“My message to every woman out there is to hold onto your dreams, regardless of the obstacles. Let’s support one another, lifting each other up instead of being stumbling blocks. Together, we can change societal perceptions about KMTC. By upholding morality and doing what is right, we can reshape attitudes,” she notes.
