Hussein Dida: Philanthropic CEO keeping hopes of needy learners alive

**Roamtech Solutions CEO and Founder of Hussein Foundation on December 27, 2023.** [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

In August 1992, Hussein Dida lost his father, and hardly six months later in February 1993 his mother passed on and was left an orphan.

At the time his mother passed on, he was preparing to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination. The development spelled doom for them.

Dida said they were squatters on a farm in Subukia and didn't know what to do or where to go. Little did he know that another door had just opened.

The sixth born in a family of eight said they had no one to look up to as most of them were still in school.

He said villagers embraced them and the community took care of him. He said a well-wisher who owned a school took him, admitted him, and sponsored his Class Eight education. His other siblings he revealed also benefitted from well-wishers.

"I passed my KCPE and was admitted to Njoro Boys and one of the locals took me and introduced me to a white lady-Doctor Ann Spoerry who was working with Amref and paid for my secondary school education," said Dida.

He said he got good grades and while waiting to be admitted to the University, Dr Spoerry got him admitted for an accountancy course which he dropped out after she passed on.

For Dida were it not for the locals and the well-wishers, his life would have been difficult having lost both parents while still young.

The Roamtech Solutions Limited CEO and founder of Hussein Dida Foundation assists students joining secondary schools in what he terms as giving back to the society that offered him a shoulder to lean on.

For three years, Dida has been going around Subukia Constituency with the locals to identify needy and bright learners who cannot join secondary school due to lack of fees and try to assist.

On Wednesday he met the learners in Subukia where they held a talk as part of a follow-up programme to know how they were doing.

He noted that the start of everything is always difficult and has always supported young learners to ensure they join secondary school.

Through the foundation, Dida says he has managed to assist over 200 learners. This year alone he said 103 learners will benefit from the foundation. Each learner gets at least Sh5,000 for school fees.