RACE OF LIFE - FROM BICYCLE REPAIR TO AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER: Francis Ouru Otieno Achando (Prof Augustine Afullo Biographic Series- Documenting the Undocumented)

Francis Otieno Achando (Ragot) Jakaduol (MakaMuga) is a humble village boy born in Usigu village of Yimbo location, Siaya County, Kenya. He was born at the time Kenya was almost getting its independence, and therefore was named Ouru. This is a story of what you can call the life of a miracle boy-from Grass to Grace…from a humble bicycle repair assistant to a top much sought hands-on automotive heavy machinery engineer. A third born in a family of four, he did his elementary schooling in Wambasa and Nyangera, dropping out along the way to fend for his family. From his bicycle repair job, he was able to get a fish for family meals on daily basis. Concerned about his future, his father Charles allocates him two plots of ancestral land. His dropping out of school, however, brings tension with his elder brother, then learning at Sigalagala technical and later University of Nairobi as an engineer. Through quiet diplomacy, the family convinces him to go back to school, a call Ouru responds to half-heartedly. Along the way, Ragot becomes a victim of the Bilo then prevalent in this part of Yimbo…a dead chicken at his door leads to his ‘death’ and mourning for two days…and miraculously he resurrects. Upon completion of his primary education in late 1970’s, he opts for vocational education to pursue his dream profession- Mechanical Engineering-Automotive option. Here he navigates through a rough terrain of Mathematics and Physics…extremely strange subjects..but through determination and hard work, he pulls through the Government trade test III, II and I in Thika, Kisumu and Nairobi technical training Institutes respectively. While in Thika, he starts a family and has his eldest daughter, Eunice. Fortunately, Francis gets work immediately after his Trade test II exam. But life is never as was expected…though he was ready to face it come what may. He sleeps on a flattened carton box as his mattress, under a tree, while also eating on credit courtesy of a very humane Good Samaritan called Angela. He soon proves his prowess in a crowded field of workers to be promoted to a full foreman and caterpillar mechanic trainee. He proves his colleagues wrong and gets a maiden air-lift treat to Nairobi, getting an early honour of being entrusted with a vehicle to drive all the way back to his base in Turkwel. His self-drive in matters mechanical engineering gives him an edge, beating the odds to wake up machines, cranes and caterpillars when other more educated paper holders with senior positions fail. With a combination of hot temper, professional prowess and advanced social skills.........kindly book your copy from this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/RACE-LIFE-AUTOMOTIVE-Documenting-Undocumented/dp/B084DGPMJR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1597758410&refinements=p_27%3AProf+Augustine+Afullo&s=books&sr=1-1