The Kenyan National Assembly is full of people from all kinds of backgrounds, and some of them quit top jobs to pursue a career in politics.
In this segment, Nairobileo.co.ke takes a look at the career path of Tongaren Member of Parliament and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu.
The soft-spoken member of parliament is currently serving his third term in parliament since his inaugural election in 2007.
File image of Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu. |Photo| Courtesy|
However, little is known to the public of his eight years of service in the military and stint at the University of Nairobi as a lecturer where he taught medicine.
Speaking to a local daily, the lawmaker revealed that growing up, he always dreamt of being either a doctor or a soldier.
"I served in the military in the 80s. Growing up, I knew that if I had not become a doctor, I probably would have joined the military, so I thought to go and serve my term there but as a medical doctor," Simiyu recounted.
The MP revealed that during his service days, the country's military was not as active as it is today. Though remained quiet on some of the details.
"We are governed by military secret oath so I cannot say what or who we were combating because that would be unfair. The type of combat in our time, however, was not like what is in Somalia currently. Things back then were happening in Sudan, Uganda and so forth," he revealed.
Eseli completed his O and A levels from Nairobi School and was selected to the University of Nairobi where he pursued an undergraduate degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) and graduated in 1984.
Between 1984 and 1985, he interned at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) before proceeding to join the military. He was stationed at the Armed Forces Medical Services as a medical doctor.
He served in the force for three years before taking a break to pursue post-graduate studies at the University of Nairobi (UoN) before he returned to service as a qualified paediatrician, a position he served in until 1993 when he left the army.
Eseli revealed that his decision to quit the military was because he had served his time and that also the University of Nairobi had called him to teach.
"I had served my term and the University of Nairobi wanted me to teach, so I went there and slowly rose through the ranks to the position of a senior lecturer," he recounted.
He served as a lecturer until August 2005 when he was promoted to a senior lecturer, a position he has held to date alongside his role as MP.
Eseli is proud of his service in the KDF and maintains that he would not hesitate to go back if he was called in.
"I am part of the saying in the military that once you are a soldier, you will always be a soldier. If ever I am called upon, in whatever capacity, to offer any form of service, I will," he concluded.
