Jackson Maina considers himself to be one of Kenya’s happiest people, since his life took a 180-degree change, transforming him from a Nakuru watchman to a member of one of the world’s most powerful military forces.
He was born in Nyahururu to a low-income household.
Maina’s parents struggled to put him through school and frequently relied on well-wishers to keep him in class after being sent home for tuition arrears.
He enrolled in high school, and given his circumstances, many expected him to work hard to help his family.
However, this was not the case. Like most teenagers, he was frequently glued to his phone, and when he took his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2016, the candidate received what he sowed.
“I scored a D plain. My father was very disappointed in me and even broke into tears because he consistently told me to focus on my studies but I was always busy with my phone and girls,” he said.
In an effort to make things right, Maina left home and traveled to Samburu to be his own man.
He realised that his idea of swiftly obtaining a well-paying job was all a ruse without paperwork.
Maina worked in a variety of physical professions, including as a bartender, before moving to Nakuru to work as a construction worker.
A friend then connected him with a logistics company, where he worked as a turnboy on a truck transporting products from Nairobi to Uganda.
Maina received his first purple patch in 2019 when he entered the National Youth Service (NYS).
“I joined NYS and my hope was to join the plant operation contingent because I always wanted to operate construction machinery. My prayer was answered,” he stated.
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During his breaks, his father advised him to apply for the US Diversity Visa, which is a green card. He submitted an application but was unsuccessful.
In the same year, his father died, causing tragedy for his family. He continued his education and graduated in 2020, motivated by the desire to make his father proud.
Maina’s problems worsened when he was unable to find work as a result of the global pandemic. He returned to Samburu and enrolled in the Kazi Mtaani program.
Meanwhile, he continued to apply for jobs and even participated in the National Police Service recruiting.
Finally, an opening occurred in Qatar. The loss of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity prompted him to hunt for work, and he ended himself working as a watchman in Nakuru for Ksh 8,800 per month.
“I met an agent who was honestly trying to help me but he needed me to pay Ksh 100,000 to process my travel documents. I sought help from friends and families but couldn’t meet the target,” he recalled.
He would save some money for the next opening. In the midst of his trials, he remembered his father and entered the green-card lottery again in October 2020.
Meanwhile, he continued to work hard to enhance his compensation. With the assistance of a few friends, he began the process of applying for a visa and finding a host.
“I would work as a construction worker by day and watchman by night. When the results for the DV visa were out, I was shocked to find my name among the winners,” he shared.
Maina applied for the Selective Service, which is a requirement for all DV winners under the age of 25, received training in Chicago and was assigned to the US Navy.
