Born into a life marked by hardship and loss, Mark Githuki faced challenges that would have deterred many.
Orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandfather, he encountered uncertainty and adversity at every turn.
Yet, through sheer determination and an unwavering belief in his dreams, he refused to succumb to despair.
Githuki’s aspiration to become a journalist burned brightly within him, despite initial setbacks.
When his performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams fell short, he refused to let failure define him.
“I always wanted to be a journalist. The languages that were supposed to make me a model journalist sadistically failed me. I just remember asking God to do His will with my life because I thought I had failed on my own,” he recalls.
With the support of his grandfather, he seized the opportunity to retake the exams, using his previous experience to propel himself toward success.
“He who is in need has no freedom of choice… I mechanically made my way back to the classroom, where I rekindled my ambition to become a journalist. The 2009 KCSE results came and I had a B-, making me one of 81,048 out of 330,000 candidates to qualify for direct university admission,” he says.
Poverty became both a barrier and a catalyst for Githuki’s journey. Despite missing out on university admission due to financial constraints, he found ways to sustain himself, from working as a casual laborer to engaging in entrepreneurial ventures such as smuggling sanitary towels.
Each setback only fueled his determination to forge ahead, driving him to explore new avenues for growth and opportunity.
It was during his time as an untrained mortician that Githuki experienced a pivotal moment of transformation. Amidst the darkness and sorrow of the mortuary, he discovered a resilience within himself that enabled him to confront his fears and embrace the challenges before him. Through his work with the dead, he not only found financial stability but also unearthed a deeper sense of purpose and determination.
Despite facing stigma and criticism from others, Githuki remained steadfast in his pursuit of his dreams. Whether selling condoms in brothels or navigating the complexities of campus life, he refused to be deterred by the judgments of society.
His commitment to his passion for journalism never wavered, leading him to eventually secure a position at the national broadcaster.
