Senator Eddy Oketch opens up about living on the streets as a child

Migori senator Eddy Oketch has shared the emotional story of his difficult childhood, revealing that he once lived on the streets after dropping out of school following the death of his mother.

Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the first-term senator said his life story is similar to that of millions of Kenyans who grow up in poverty, with the only difference being that he was fortunate to receive opportunities from people who believed in him.

“My story is a story of a million Kenyans and millions of Kenyans, with one single difference for me being given opportunity by other people,” he said.

According to Oketch, he was born and raised in Mang’ongo village in Uriri Constituency, Migori County, where his family lived in extreme poverty.

Growing up in poverty

The senator recalled that his family lived in a tiny one-room house that did not even have a proper door.

“We grew up in a very small house. We didn’t even have a door. Our door was a mat,” he said.

Oketch explained that his mother was the family’s breadwinner because his father had physical challenges that limited his ability to provide. However, everything changed after his mother died in 2003.

He said most of his older siblings had already dropped out of school due to financial hardship, and he soon found himself forced to leave school as well.

Living on the streets

After dropping out of school, Oketch said he left home and walked for about five hours to Migori Town in search of a better life.

“I walked for five hours, went to Migori Town, and then started my life there in the streets,” he recalled.

He later travelled to Kisumu before eventually making his way to Nairobi, where he continued living on the streets.

Oketch narrated how he survived by collecting waste paper and scrap metal from estates and selling them to recycling plants in Kariobangi. On a good day, he said, he earned about Ksh15, which he used to buy food.

He also recalled spending nights outside market stalls after traders had left or in makeshift churches where street children sought shelter.

A life-changing opportunity

The senator said his life took a different turn when one of the church leaders he had met learned about his struggles and decided to help him.

“It was in the midst of doing all these things that one of the owners of the church got to hear about my story and took me back,” he said.

Oketch said that act of kindness changed the course of his life and shaped his belief in giving others opportunities.

“The only difference for me that has made me who I’ve become today is that I’ve been given opportunities by other people to be who I am. That’s why I’m desperate to give that opportunity to other people,” he said.

You might also like

Celebrity

Pastor T Mwangi opens up about early exposure in childhood

Celebrity

Diana Marua recalls painful childhood struggles during emotional visit to former home