It is often said that fingers are not equal. While some are born with silver spoons and automatically have a head-start in their life, many are born with no spoon at all and have to work extremely hard to achieve anything. While this lack of opportunity may be a barricade to many, it rather steeled the resolve of Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose. His journey from a humble herder in Turkana County to becoming the first dual PhD in his community is a testament to resilience, hard work, and sheer determination. While his story serves as an inspiration to many, it also highlights the power of determination and perseverance in overcoming life’s challenges.
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Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose’s Humble Beginning and Drive for Education
Born in the early 1970s in Katilia, Turkana East, Kenya, Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose was faced with different adversities right from a young age. Losing his father at a tender age, the Kenyan scholar was raised by his widowed mother, Mary Apungure, in the Turkana East region, an area renowned for perennial droughts and banditry. As a result, he had to work extra hard from a young age to support his family, even if he had to herd camels and goats and endure the scorching sun all day. For young Daniel, access to basic necessities like food and good clothes was a constant struggle, with relief supplies being scarce and unavailable, wild fruits became the only option for survival.
In a nutshell, Dr Nawose’s childhood was rough and hard, but this experience shaped him to become a better version of himself. Meanwhile, a chance encounter that would alter the course of his life happened in 1980 when he caught the eye of a cleric while tending to his younger brother near Katilia Primary School. The cleric became the foundation of Nawose’s education by ensuring the young boy was enrolled in the primary school. Although the financial situation of his family didn’t improve while in school, the dual PhD holder exhibited strong commitment and determination and was able to balance his studies with working as a herder.
However, working as a herder in Katilia was not enough to support his struggling family; he had to seek new employment in the neighbouring county when he was in standard five. Thus, the 12-year-oldarrived in Soy, Uasin Gishu County in 1984 as a herder in order to further support his family. Interestingly, this new experience would later become the fuel that fires young Nawose’s resolve to return to school. Seeing his employers’ children attending school while he herded their livestock all day, he was determined to get educated by all means. With this newfound resolve, the young boy returned to Turkana, resumed his education, and eventually completed primary and secondary education.
Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose’s Military Days and Journey to Dual PhD
Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose story continued in 1992 when he enrolled into the Kenyan military force, where he served diligently for over a decade, including postings to Mombasa and Nairobi, among others. While working in the military can be demanding, the Kenyan scholar was able to hold on to his resolve and passion for education. This determination eventually drove him to resign from the military in 2004 and pursue his tertiary education.
Shedding off his military life, the dual PhD holder from Turkana enrolled at Moi University, Kenya and barged a Bachelor of Education in Arts degree in 2007. Demonstrating an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he proceeded with his education and barged a Master’s degree in Education in 2011. However, he never stopped there; his hard work paid off and the Kenyan scholar secured a scholarship to pursue his PhD in France, completing his studies in 2018. At this point, it would seem as if Dr Nawose had reached the pinnacle of his academic journey, however, he never drew the line. Returning to his alma mater once more, he pursued his second PhD in Religious Studies at Moi University and eventually graduated in December 2024, becoming the first person from Turkana East to achieve the feat.
Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose’s Academic Research and Contributions
While his feat as the first dual PhD holder from Turkana County of Kenya is commendable, his academic and research contributions are the cream of the crop. Focusing on leadership studies and religious education, Dr Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose has made significant contributions through his research. His research dove into the leadership dynamics within Kenyan governments and the assessment methods employed by Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in national secondary schools.
In his study titled “Passive Leadership Styles Influence on Employees’ Performance in Kenya,” Dr.Nawose explored how passive leadership styles affect employee performance in Turkana County. The research highlighted the complex relationship between leadership approaches and organizational outcomes, stressing the need for leaders to embrace styles that improve employee performance.
He further explored the assessment methods used by CRE teachers to evaluate learner value acquisition. Dr Nawose identified various techniques, such as observation and comprehension exercises, and discussed the challenges teachers face in assessing values in the educational context. Overall, theresearch highlights the importance of effective assessment strategies in promoting value-based education.
In a nutshell, Dr Nawose has dedicated his education journey to dissecting and simplifying the understanding of the relationship between leadership and educational assessment in the Kenyan educational system. Through this research, he was able to provide frameworks that can inform policy and practice in these areas.
Driving Motivation for Dr Daniel Nawose’s Resilience
While Dr Nawose’s story makes for a good headline, it is important to take note of some key factors in his journey. Firstly, born without a spoon in his mouth, Nawose’s resilience and determination are something to learn from. The adversities he had to face while growing up are enough to shift the course of the lives of a lot of young people out there. However, he found strength in these challenges and became a beacon of hope and inspiration for his community and beyond.
Secondly, his journey reeked of sacrifices. He knows what needs to be done and does that even if he needs to make necessary sacrifices. For instance, he could’ve continued his work as a herder in Soy, but he chose to go back to what matters to him the most – getting educated. Another instance was when he left the military to pursue his bachelor’s degree. These instances depict his level of sacrifice and showcase his commitment to his goal. Dr Daniel Nawose was able to defy the odds and demonstrate that one’s background does not necessarily define their future.
Final Thoughts
The story of Dr Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose reminds us of a character from one of my favourite anime – Black Clover. A magicless boy – an anomaly – in a kingdom where magic was everything, embarked on the journey to become the strongest mage in the kingdom – the wizard king. Although he was born without any magic, he worked thrice as hard as people with magic and eventually became a fearful force against any magic. In the same, Dr Nawose, born without any support system, was able to achieve an incredible feat by working twice as hard as everyone around him. He proved that even if you’re poor, or a peasant, or grow up from nothing, anyone could be amazing. So, dare to dream and dare to work towards that dream.