Caleb Amisi shares inspiring journey from orphaned childhood to MP
By Mustafa Juma, August 5, 2025Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has opened up about his humble and emotional upbringing, revealing how tragedy and perseverance shaped his path to leadership.
Speaking in a candid interview with media personality Steve Thompson Maghana, alias Oga Obinna, on the night of Monday, August 4, 2025, Amisi recalled being born into adversity in Sabatia, Vihiga County.
His father died two months before his birth, and just six months later, his mother abandoned him, leaving him under a tree at his grandmother’s compound.
“I was born without a father. My father died two months before I was born. My mother left me six months after I was born. She left me under a tree in the compound of my paternal grandmother. I was almost at the brink of dying because of the cold, because I was told I had been dumped at night,” Amisi said.
No mother
Whilst he lived to see the grave of his father, Amisi says he has never seen his mother and that he does not know whether she is dead or still alive.
According to him, he has lived to call his cousins brothers and sisters because he does not know any of his siblings.
“At least I used to see where my father was buried, but up to now, I don’t know whether my mother is alive or dead because I have never seen her since I was born. I was raised by my grandmother as an orphan. I have no brother; I have no sister. I actually call my cousins sisters and brothers because those are the people I have been raised with,” he narrated.
He further noted that he was raised by his ageing grandmother, later moving to live with relatives in Kitale due to her frailty.
Transition to Starehe
Despite the hardships, Amisi stood out academically. He walked barefoot for eight years but still emerged top in the entire Western region in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.
“I was born in a place called Sabatia in Vihiga County. I later shifted to my relatives’ place in Kitale at a young age since my grandmother could hardly take care of me due to her old age. So I established myself in Kitale. What changed my life is my performance in school. I used to walk to school barefoot for eight years, but I managed to emerge number one in the entire Western region in KCPE,” Amisi said.
It was at Starehe that Amisi wore his first pair of shoes — a moment that marked the beginning of a life transformation.
The school provided him not only with education but also with the foundation to rise into national leadership.
“My headmaster saw my performance right from the MOCK exams and noticed that I was performing well, but my situation back at home may not lead me to anywhere. So he filled a yellow form for Starehe Boys Centre, without me knowing. I only knew about Starehe after I was given a letter to join. That is how I found myself at Starehe. I wore my first shoe at Starehe,” he noted.