BUSIA POLITICIAN OVERCOMES ALL ODDS TO OBTAIN FIRST DEGREE AT ADVANCED AGE
A Busia politician-cum businessman Zilper Bett has overcome all odds to obtain first degree at an advanced age of 52.
Ms. Bett was among over 4800 graduants who graduated at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology ( MMUST) in Kakamega on Friday 1st December 2023 that was presided over by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
The journey to the first degree was not achieved on a silver platter. After obtaining her “O” levels certificate at St Cecilia Nangina Girls in 1991 she undertook a diploma in clearing and forwarding and was posted to the Busia frontier port and later the office of the president attached to registration of persons and later ministry of health Busia County Referral Hospital.
” With a diploma in clearing and forwarding, I felt it was not enough for me to pursue a degree in social work and community development, which is my favourite field. I then enrolled for certificate and diploma courses and later the historic degree at the Butula Campus Learning Centre,” she said.
Zilper Bett after graduating with a bachelors degree in social work and community development at MMUST in Kakamega on Friday.
Zilper said she opted to pursue a degree in social work and community development to motivate members of the local community to enable them enjoy normal lives like other privileged people.
She added: ” I couldn’t achieve my cherished dreams without first degree, thus my desire to beat odds. Among the challenges I will try to overcome include orphans education under Brigita children’s home, palatine care, Key population, sexual and gender based violence, child trafficking, alcohol reduction and geatric care.”
Zilper said education has no age limit, noting that 52 years is good age to do the work of social work and community development, adding that Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda do not offer services to orphans, vulnerable and elderly persons by using different approaches to reach them.
” Such unprivileged groups face many challenges. ” I thank the Directorate of Children Services for embracing alternative family care and discourage the issue of placing children in childrens homes.
The alternative family care include adoption, guardianship, kafaala, supported child headed families, kinship, foster care, independent supporting living, and temporary shelter, for example, child protection unit at Busia police station.
She first vied for women representative in Busia County in 2017 and later in 2022, she vied for position of Member of Parliament in Matayos Constituency where she took second position on independent ticket.
Kimani Maruge was the oldest person to start primary school at the age of 84, earning his place in the guiness books of records.
Maruge also holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to leave primary school. He enrolled in standard one on January 12, 2004, aged 84 according to Wikipedia.
Although he had no papers to prove his age, Maruge believed he was born in 1920. However,
he had the physical appearance of someone slightly younger.
Ngina is the youngest PhD. holder in Kenya at
28 years. She joined
Strathmore University as an assistant lecturer in 2016, during which she received funding from The German Academic Exchange Service to enrol for her PhD.
In 2018, she made history as Kenya’s youngest PhD. holder in Biomathematics aged 28 years.
