Ole kiyiapi biography

While Kenya’s leading candidates have dominated media coverage in this country and others, theirs are not the only names in the race. Here, we profile the lesser-known candidates in the running for Kenya’s most powerful position.

While most politicians around the world like to emphasise – or invent – their “working-class roots” in a bid to boost their popular appeal, forestry academic Professor James Ole Kiyiapi had truly humble beginnings.

The youngest child of the family, Kiyiapi grew up as a shepherd boy among the Maasai tribe.

“Life was fun, playing in the extensive fields herding cattle,” he said.

“I also helped my mother to roof our hut well by spreading cow dung.”

It’s hard to get much more humble than that.

But after being schooled in Kikuyu and getting a first degree at Moi University, Kiyiapi ventured to Toronto, where lecturers upgraded his MSc plans and placed him on a PhD course.

He received