By: Kevin Owuor
Worth Noting:
- Interestingly, Commissioner Yogo in the past had been teaching his nieces and nephews and occasionally neighbors children even before he was appointed as an Assistant County Commissioner. His niece who at one times was a candidate used to have negative attitude towards Kiswahili but, Yogo was able to nurture her, till date she appreciates Yogo’s efforts. Sirisia Township became the first avenue that Yogo was to teach in a school setup.
- I asked Yogo of the initial reaction of the students when he was introduced that he was going to teach them. ‘The first day I was introduced to the two streams of candidate class, I was dressed in my National Government Administration Officer (NGAO) uniform.
What comes to your mind when one talks about Assistant County Commissioner? Perhaps many folks aren’t up to speed with that term of which it is fine. Put differently, what comes to mind when one talks of either a District Commissioner or District Officer? One is sure to picture the regalia that they put on while on duty as well as one who walks perhaps with some Administration Police Officers in the course of his action.
The specific duties and responsibilities of Assistant County Commissioner include but not limited to: carrying out general administrative duties; coordinating disaster management; coordinating the maintenance of law and order; identifying persons for national and civil registration; overseeing implementation of National Government development projects in the area of jurisdiction; initiation of peace building initiatives; coordinating campaigns against drug, alcohol and substance abuse; ensure security of government property, assets, inventory and facilities; compile returns, daily operations and incident reports and assist in handling general public complaints.
Having pictured who an Assistant County Commissioner is, now picture an Assistant County Commissioner who is in class teaching students in primary school. Is it something you can picture? One
who that can be case. This is the story of Assistant County Commissioner Harison Yogo who is pronto based at Bungoma West Sub County, Sirisia Constituency, in Bungoma County. Harison Yogo is an Actuarial Science graduate from Dedan Kimathi University. He was appointed on 9th August 2021 as Assistant County Commissioner. Having been appointed as an Assistant County Commissioner, posted in Sirisia, as his first posting ever, Yogo entertained some thought. He asked himself a pertinent question. He was like apart from my administrative role what else can he be able to do to impact on the society. He felt the urgent need to give back to the community.
He was able to come up with two ideas, on the spiritual and education aspects of the people he serves. Being an ardent Seventh-Day Adventist, he identified a young growing church which he joined and became a member. By the time he was joining the church did not have a church choir. He formed a choir. which recorded its first album within four months and he had to be the choir trainer definitely. Having achieved this he was keen on the educational aspect of the people where he serves. He had this burden of reaching out unto others who weren’t members of the Seventh-Day Adventist faith. He decided to teach students in primary school. At first I identified a school that was near his residence, but he was later told that it was a private school, yet Mr. Yogo wanted to teach in a public school. So he finally settled on a public primary school near his office. He approached the Head Teacher who willingly accepted for Yogo to teach the students.
Interestingly, Commissioner Yogo in the past had been teaching his nieces and nephews and occasionally neighbors children even before he was appointed as an Assistant County Commissioner. His niece who at one times was a candidate used to have negative attitude towards Kiswahili but, Yogo was able to nurture her, till date she appreciates Yogo’s efforts. Sirisia Township became the first avenue that Yogo was to teach in a school setup.
I asked Yogo of the initial reaction of the students when he was introduced that he was going to teach them. ‘The first day I was introduced to the two streams of candidate class, I was dressed in my National Government Administration Officer (NGAO) uniform. They were so excited. At first they thought that I was a police officer, but I had to explain for them the difference. So I told them that I am the area Assistant County Commissioner. Usually in the sub county that I serve, we developed a culture of wearing uniform at least once a week usually Wednesdays. The rest of the days of the week we do smart official. My pupils would be more excited on Wednesday, my uniform days, they liked seeing me in the uniform. Mostly they liked my barrette and swagger cane. In the evening after classes I had to pass through the shopping center, so my pupils would walk with me, especially those that I would move with the same direction. The boys would cordon me telling me that they are my bodyguard just like it is done to senior government officials or politicians this would really thrill them, that I am walking with them especially during my uniform days,’ Yogo stated.
Yogo is quick to note as well that every time before beginning his lessons he prays, as well as when he is done with his classes. At first he notes that it was germane for the students and were a bit shy whenever he asked them to pray. So Commissioner Yogo took it the initiative to nurture the students into this praying culture (prayers and Bible verses). As time went by they got used to the same till whenever the custom wasn’t adhered to they were quick to point out to Commissioner Yogo. Every morning Monday to Friday, Mr. Harison would read to them an encouraging Bible verse. He told me that the students loved and enjoyed the same thus the students labelled him as Pastor.
So what motivated Mr. Harison Yogo to teach the kids? ‘My educational life changed when I got a quality education in a town school. I used to school at the rural area. When I lost my mum, I went with my dad to town, where he used to work. I joined a town school and I realized how dedicated and committed both teachers and students were. I found it rough at first, but I was able to cope up. The style of teaching and recourses, were like day and night. I went through that school and excelled and went to Maranda High School which is national school. I knew exactly how my life changed and I asked myself what if I get hold of some pupils and make them do exactly what I did or show them exactly what is done in the urban schools, they would imitate and perform. That’s how I took the candidate class of Sirisia Township Primary School and started nurturing them and mentoring them to success,’ Commissioner Yogo quipped.
By the virtue that Yogo is an Assistant County Commissioner and he has immense tasks on his table, where does he get the time to teach the students? One surely should pose that question. ‘I go to class from 5:30 am to 6:30 am or sometimes 7am in the morning and from 5pm to 6:30pm every evening from Monday to Friday. I also do special Sunday classes for those who need extra coaching, this was voluntary, but close to half of the class would attend from 8am to 3pm. As you can see my classes do not interfere or clash with my administrative duties or normal school operations,’ Yogo stated.
He notes as well that just before the candidate class sat for their exams, together with the school administration they organized for an academic tour. The students were taken to one of the top schools in Kisumu County, Xaverian Primary, which was Yogo’s former primary school, the school which changed the trajectory of his life. ‘Here the candidate class benchmarked with the other candidates from Xaverian Primary from 7am to 2pm. They were able to interact and learn with students from Xaverian Primary School. Later they went to Lake Victoria. They were so excited. I remember one of the pupils telling me: ‘Teacher, am so happy I have never boarded a bus in my life and this is my first time. Leo watu wa Kijiji watanitambua.’ And many others. This trip motivated them the most,’ Yogo stated.
To appreciate students who perform well in various subjects he made academic badges for best student on each subject. This rewarding program as well extended to those students who have improved overtime and those who became top positions. Mr. Yogo did this in a bid inspire the students to work towards at least to get a badge and that means scoring highly in the various subjects which in turn improve the performance of the students generally.
So as to motivate the students especially those who sat for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, Mr. Yogo invited a Lady Magistrate based at Sirisia Law Courts to talk to the pupils especially to motivate the girls in the candidate class. The Lady Magistrate shared with them her life experience and how she has been able to progress in life and the value of hard work in class. The session was of essence to the candidates.
One of his former students that I was able to get in touch with is Paul Baraka Nyongesa. This student couldn’t hide his joy when I mentioned Mr. Harison Yogo. He informed me that he had just sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and scored 344 marks which to him was a milestone. He noted that since Mr. Harison Yogo embarked on teaching them they have been motivated and thus able to post stellar performance as compared to
what they used to score in previous times. According to him, Mr. Yogo really made him decode key mathematical concepts, procedures and how to handle examination questions. This was a plus to him for mathematics was a stumbling block to his academics. Moreover, he is quick to note that Mr. Yogo also impacted him in other subjects that he taught him. Unto him, Mr. Yogo was definitely a blessing and deserves a pat on his back for a job well done. The sacrifice made by Commissioner Yogo to impart knowledge on the kids is evident that it has borne tremendous fruit and it will continue doing so.
On calling the head teacher, Madam Esinas Simiyu, she was jubilant at the mention of the name Yogo. It seems that Yogo is brand that sells without even him uttering a word this is courtesy of the good work that he has been able to post for the duration that he has been able to engage the students at Sirisia Township Primary School. Madam Esinas Simiyu talks of Mr. Yogo as an all-round individual in the sense that overtime he has been able to teach the students across the various subjects all though he initially started with teaching English and Kiswahili especially the writings (Insha and Composition). Courtesy of Mr. Yogo contribution the school registered a positive deviation of 22 from a mean of 245 to 267. Madam Simiyu informed me that Yogo isn’t just keen on teaching the students core subjects, he cares for them and has the best interests at heart. Thus, he has been able to organize
for mentorship sessions where the students get quality talks from diverse speakers who encourage them to work hard in school and make a name for themselves in the country and world generally. The mentorship sessions are essential ideally for they make the students know that everything is possible provided there is hard work, dedication, commitment and voracious reading. Studying is an amazing experience. However, it can also be a challenging one. A mentor can provide a student with personal support throughout the ups and downs of academia. This can reinforce a student’s sense of resilience.
Mentors naturally provide mentees with fresh perspectives on whatever they are dealing with. These new perspectives come with more personal experience so they are of high value. In addition, with the advice and guidance of a mentor, mentees can avoid making mistakes that would otherwise occur. As they gain traction on the route to achieving their goals, they will develop leadership skills and opportunities to work in leadership positions. With mentorship as well, one can be able to gain immediate access to someone you can trust who has experience in the same realm the students are trying to navigate. This can be priceless. Consequently, mentorship caters for both academic and real life experience and this enables the students to expose themselves to the tidings of ‘the outside world.’
The Deputy Head teacher, Madam Florence Wekesa, shared the sentiments of Madam Esinas Simiyu. She was keen to note on Mr. Yogo’s humility which is a rare commodity for someone who has the status that he has. She was like somebody with such a big job to decide to teach students in primary school seems more of a fairy tale. She also was quick to state that Mr. Yogo has been every handy in the school and he is ready to do anything provided it is for the betterment of the students who is keen on making them succeed. On students appreciating his (Mr. Yogo Harison) work, she was like Mr. Yogo is a darling to the students and each time he is school the students by all means want to breathe the same air that he is breathing. They want to be as close as possible to him. Above all, Madam Esinas Simiyu prays that God lifts Commissioner Yogo in his endeavors and that for his zeal for reaching out to the community, God to bless him.
The above testaments definitely reflect how resourceful one Harison Yogo has been to Sirisia Township Primary School. Folks usually associate persons in disciplined careers like Yogo’s to only deal with matters security, Mr. Yogo is keen enough to change this stereotype and mentality among an array of masses, by demonstrating that folks in disciplined careers and the security sector generally can be able to teach and impact the community positively.
THAT IS THE STORY OF THE ASSISTANT COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO DOUBLES UP AS A TEACHER AND MENTOR.
Elizabeth Angira 
Simiyu S. Stanford