For the last 12 years, Anthony Irungu has been in the US and his is a story of determination and focus even in the face of a storm.
Irungu, a father to a nine-year-old girl says that with his tough life since childhood to the point he won a Green Card to the US, he has learnt that if you are to survive in America, be flexible and shed off pride.
Irungu is based in Pittsburg and is currently pursuing his doctorate degree in business and runs a business consultancy firm in the US but on Friday and Saturdays, he works as a cab driver to sustain himself and his family.
Speaking recently to Lyn Ngugi of Tuko, Irungu said that his tough upbringing and the demise of his mother seven years ago left him with the burden of being the head of his family even when in the US.
For this reason, though he lives in the US, Irungu makes three to four trips to Kenya every year which is why he doubles up as a cab driver to cater for the cost of air tickets for his travel to Kenya every so often.
He advices Kenyans that whenever they are seeking opportunities abroad, they should leave their pride in Kenya.
“The problem is we the people. Whenever you are seeking opportunities abroad, make sure you leave your pride here in Kenya,” he remarks adding “there the systems are totally different and actually things that people consider to be awkward jobs; they give you the flexibility to do other things and actually people make a lot of money from them rather than being employed in an office and being paid monthly.”
Irungu says that he opted “for the odd jobs” because he has the flexibility he desires which is spending at least four months in Kenya which he would never get with an office job where he is only entitled to an annual leave of 21-30 days.
He said that a major challenge for some Kenyans who travel abroad for greener pastures is lack of purpose which sees them return home after decades with nothing to show for their stay abroad.
A month ago, Kenyans triggered a debate on why Churchill Show Comedian David The Student left a stellar comedy job in Kenya for the US where he works as a cab driver.
