Man who worked as herdsman to pay his school fees becomes successful, makes history as first person to earn 2 PhD in his community.

A determined Kenyan scholar, Daniel Ing’ollan Nawose, has made history as the first person from Turkana County to earn two Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

From herding livestock as a young boy to overcome financial challenges to pursuing excellence in academia, Nawose’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience and ambition.

Born in Turkana East, an area plagued by drought and banditry, Nawose began herding camels and goats at the tender age of 12 to support his widowed mother and siblings. In 1984, he moved to Soy where he worked as a herdsman to earn money for food and school fees.

Nawose’s life took an unexpected turn in 1980 when he was introduced to education by a cleric at Katilia Primary School after his younger brother suffered a nosebleed near the school.

Until then, attending school had never crossed his mind, as survival was his primary concern. Balancing herding and schooling, he excelled in his exams, attended Lokitaung Secondary School, and later joined the military as a cadet officer in 1992.

After 11 years of service, Nawose left the military in 2004 to pursue higher education—a decision he never regretted, as he credits the military with preparing him for life’s challenges.

Nawose’s academic journey began at Moi University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Education Arts in 2007. He followed this with a master’s degree in Education in 2011.

In 2018, he completed his first PhD in Education in France under a scholarship. His passion for knowledge and a desire to inspire his community led him to pursue a second PhD in Religious Studies Education at Moi University, which he successfully completed in 2024.

“Pursuing a second PhD was motivated by my desire to serve as a role model and inspire others to overcome challenges and pursue education,” Nawose said.

Nawose’s journey was fraught with challenges. Raised by a widow in a drought-stricken and banditry-prone area, he endured 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 labor, financial struggles, and a lack of resources.

While herding cows in Soy, he observed that his employer’s 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren attended school, which sparked a realization.

“I was shocked to discover that the family that hired me had 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren going to school. When my employer asked me why I wasn’t in school, I realized I was wasting my potential,” he said.

This realization prompted him to return to Turkana to continue his education. Nawose is now celebrated as a trailblazer in Turkana County, inspiring others to pursue education against all odds.

“I’m happy to be the first from my community to achieve two PhDs. I hope my story motivates others to follow in my footsteps,” he said.

Nawose’s wife, Rebecca Amimlim, expressed her pride in his accomplishments and pledged her support for his academic pursuits. “He faced financial challenges, but I kept encouraging him. If he wishes to pursue a third PhD, I will support him,” she said.

Nawose’s mother, Mary Apungure, expressed her joy at his achievements and looked forward to welcoming him home as a hero.

With his exceptional academic achievements, Nawose is among a select few in Kenya with two PhDs. He hopes to use his expertise to contribute to academia and inspire his community to see education as a path to transformation.