This is the 15-year old kenyan talent Isaiah Otieno. Isaiah is from the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum that is an area with extreme poverty. Through his intellect and hard work he has managed to become a top junior in chess, as well as one of the best students in the country. In fact he is number 2 in his region, only beaten by his brother! Abdul Malik. Thus we are delighted to help Isaiah and his family to a better life, by allocating them in a real, furnished flat where they are comfortable and can nurture their talent. And of course Isaiah will get a laptop with chessbase installed plus a coach so he can improve. Mukuru is full of smart talents that needs a stable environment and acceptable living conditions, help us to help them!
BIO: Isaiah Otieno Oluoch
DOB: 06 June 2005
Now 15 years
Born in Mukuru Kwa Njenga Slum, in the outskirts of Nairobi. Until recently, on his 15th birthday, he and his family were moved to a 2 bedroom flat in Tena Estate, with much better amenities as we wait for the desired house, a 3 Bedroom Bungalow at Kariobangi South. In the words of his father, ‘It is a million times better’, than the single room the family shared at the slum, with one bathroom for the plot (several households).
Family: Total 8, 4 boys and 2 girls.
Father : Peter Oluoch Aguk – 38yrs – Casual Laboror, currently unemployed
Mother – Ruth Achieng Oluoch – 33 years, Sells vegetables in Mukuru
Marylyn Hiky – 19yrs, just cleared high school, helps mother at the vegetable stand
Emmanuel Oduor – 18yrs Currently in form 3, Swaminarayan High School, Moved from Langata High School due to fee challenges.
Triza Achieng – 17 years Currently in form 3 Swaminarayan High School, also moved from Moi Girls Vokoli Girls High School due to School fee constraints.
Isiah – 15yrs – Mangu High School, form 1 – This is among the best KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Exam) 408marks out of 500. Top in his school and among the best in the country.
Abdul Malik – 15yrs – Scored 418 Marks in KCPE 2019, one of the best students in the country, was drafted to a top school Kapsabet High School – National School. Father intends to relocate him to another school due to school fees challenges. Nehemiah Williams – 2 Months baby
Chess
– Isaiah learnt chess in 2015 at the age of 9, through Sports Outreach Ministry (SOM) which started a chess club at Carson Academy, formally Nairobi Slum Project school (Redroof). SOM provided meals for the kids aged 5-14 years and introduced Chess as one of the programs. Chess worked well as playgrounds are non-existent in the slum. He was very hardworking and was among the best few that represented the club in tournaments.
Unlike his peers from the affluent part of town, he has achieved well despite several challenges including:
– Never owned a chess board (until he met us!)
– Started playing on chess.com in 2020, thanks to his mother’s phone
– Used to have beginner book
– Not read any advanced books
– No direct coaching, at Redroof Erick Oyugi and Josphat Owila, taught the 80+ club how to play
Awards:
– Winka Academy 2018 Best Boy U14
– Brookhurst U14 winner
– Nairobi Southlands u14 Winnner
– Mukuru Junior Chess Championships winner u12 and u14 Boys- He has been top 3 in over a dozen other events.
National:
– Vihiga 2018 Under14 Category – Joint 2nd
– Nyeri 2018 U14 – Joint 2nd
Isaiahs big goal is to become a Grandmaster and just like he predicted when he was 10, chess will transform his life!