By Betty Luke
August 6, 2021 was and will remain a memorable day for Chief from Isiolo.
It is the day Burat Chief Abdinasir Abdisalan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development at Mount Kenya University becoming the only degree holder chief in the entire county with a total of 46 chiefs.
The administrator schooled at Kilimani Primary School before transferring to Isiolo Barracks Primary School where he sat for the national examination in 1998.
Mr Abdisalan later joined Isiolo Boys High School the following year and after school completing Form Four moved to Mombasa to look for casual jobs to sustain him.
“I got a job at a tea processing firm and later enrolled for a Diploma in Tourism Management,” Mr Abdisalan said during a recent interview with The Press Point.
The 38-year-old father of nine would later travel back home after finding a job as a tour guide which he says was the first step to becoming what he always dreamt of becoming an administrator.
Mr Abdisalan was successfully recruited as an assistant chief for Burat sub-location on August 11, 2015 and was later promoted to the position of Acting Chief in 2019 before his confirmation as chief in May 2020.
Passionate about administrative work, Mr Abdisalan saw it wise to upgrade his education and pursue a degree which he enrolled for at the University’s Nkubu campus in Meru (recently relocated to Meru town).
“I saw it important to take a course in line with administrative work and that is how I chose Community Development,” he said.
He enrolled for the Degree course in 2017 and amid several challenges including balancing family, administration work and studies, the chief managed a Second Class Upper Division grade emerging the best in his class of seven students.
“It was not easy but my family and bosses supported me and kept encouraging me,” said Mr Abdisalan who did classes during weekends.
Being an administrator undertaking studies, it was not easy for him as several peace meetings would be held during the weekends when he had travelled to Meru for classes.
He was hopeful of completing the studies in August 2020 but was pushed to this year due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The administrator who has been in public service for seven years plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in the same field to enable him to serve his community better.
“Since community development cuts across different sectors especially in my field of work, I have plans to enroll for Master’s in the same course,” he said.
The administrator appealed to young people to seize available opportunities and maximize education to better their future lives.
He lamented that the majority of youths were misusing sacrifices from their parents and sponsors who wanted to see them advance academically and become responsible citizens.
“Utilize the chance you have (been given) to study because when a parent decides to educate you it is a golden opportunity,” he appealed.
The administrator says he is committed to rise ranks by advancing studies and is not quitting the profession anytime soon.
“This is where I will retire at,” he concludes.
We at The Press Point wish you all the best and say “Congratulations”.
