Elphas Odondi: Man who asked Murkomen for job faces unemployment again

Odondi gained national attention when, during a chance meeting with CS Murkomen at the NTSA offices, he boldly requested employment. 

The minister's response, "We do not give out jobs here," sparked widespread public debate, with many Kenyans sympathising with Odondi's situation. 

Following the outcry, he was offered an 11-month contract as a driver at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) project office in Nakuru.

Odondi thanked Murkomen and the Kenya Kwanza government for following up on his situation. 

In interviews, he described his struggles after losing his job in 2020, leaving him and his family in dire straits. His plea to Murkomen was a last resort after years of unsuccessfully seeking employment.

However, Odondi’s brief relief was short-lived. With the 11-month contract now over, he finds himself unemployed again, facing mounting challenges as schools reopen. 

Speaking to the media, he discussed the financial difficulties of raising a family with two school-aged children—one in Form Two and the other in Form Four—without a steady income.

“Later, I received a call offering me a job, but it was only for a short period—11 months,” Odondi explained. “Now I find myself out of work just as my children are returning to school, and I don’t even have money to pay their fees.”

He pleaded for further intervention from the government.

“I am appealing to the government to help me secure a job so that I can support my children through school. I am willing to work, but I need a stable opportunity.”

Odondi’s predicament underscores the persistent issue of unemployment in Kenya, where short-term solutions often fail to provide sustainable relief.