Kilifi senatorial aspirant Karisa Kenga has shared a personal story about the challenges he faced while pursuing his education, revealing that some members of his family once advised him to drop out of school and seek employment.

According to Kenga, financial hardship at home meant that education was often viewed as a luxury. He recalled that relatives urged him to drop out and find employment so that he could help support the household.
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“People at home told me to drop out of school and look for a job to help at home,” he said.
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Despite the pressure, Kenga chose to continue with his studies, a decision he says eventually changed the course of his life. Today, he says he remains the only member of his family who has attended university.

                                                                Stephen Karisa // Instagram

Growing Up Amid Financial Struggles

Kenga’s experience reflects a common challenge faced by many students from low-income households in Kenya. Financial constraints often force learners to consider dropping out of school in order to contribute to family income.

In several discussions within Kenya’s Parliament, leaders have highlighted how the lack of school fees continues to push some learners out of the education system, particularly in rural areas where poverty levels remain high.

In such situations, families may encourage children to seek employment or casual work rather than continue with their studies.
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Determination to Continue Schooling

Despite the advice from family members, Kenga said he remained determined to complete his education. He continued studying and eventually secured admission to university, becoming the first person in his family to achieve that milestone.

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Reaching university is considered a major step for many students in Kenya, particularly those from marginalized or rural communities where access to higher education can be limited by financial and social factors.

Stephen Karisa // Instagram

Education and Leadership Aspirations

Kenga now uses his personal story to illustrate the importance of persistence in education. His journey from a student under pressure to drop out to a university graduate has become part of the narrative surrounding his leadership ambitions in Kilifi County.
As a senatorial aspirant, he has linked his experience to broader discussions about access to education and opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
His story reflects a wider national conversation about the barriers many Kenyan students face while pursuing education, including school fees, economic hardship and family responsibilities.
For Kenga, the decision to remain in school despite pressure at home ultimately led to a path he says few in his family had imagined — becoming the first to attend university and later seeking public leadership.