Geoffrey Ouma knows what abject poverty means because he was born into a poverty-stricken family on the outskirts of Nairobi, before relocating to the village in Homa Bay County.
Surviving in a family of four siblings, Ouma found life to be a relentless struggle as they fought to meet basic needs. “I was born into a life full poverty, and growing up wasn’t easy. We relied on our parents to fulfil all our needs, which often proved to be a very hard challenge,” Ouma says.
With these challenges, he vowed that one day he would turn tables and transform his family’s fortunes. Geoffrey ‘Mak Ouma’ Ouma’s family faced a tragic turn of events with the passing of both his parents, leaving him and his siblings orphaned.
Despite the profound loss and severe financial limitations, Ouma’s determination and strength of character never wavered. Reliant on the support of relatives, the scarcity of resources made the prospect of attending school appear distant and unachievable.
“It was a sad moment when I dropped out of school in class 6 because my relatives couldn’t afford the required money to allow me to continue with my education,” he says.
Ouma later turned to fishing to sustain himself and contribute to his family’s needs. “I decided to look for menial jobs where I could find a living to sustain ourselves. Unfortunately, I was employed at a fishing point where I used to earn between Ksh80 and Ksh100 in a day,” he said.
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His determination caught the attention of his grandmother, who intervened to support his education. With her encouragement, Ouma resumed his studies at class 7, picking up from where he had left off.
The journey through the educational system was arduous, but his commitment paid off. He not only completed his primary education but excelled in his secondary studies, showcasing his resilience and dedication to learning.
Fuelled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Geoffrey pursued a computer programming course at the Technical University of Kenya. This marked the beginning of his academic journey, leading to a degree in Business Information Technology.
His hunger for learning persisted, driving him to enrol for a Ph.D. program in Information Systems in 2015.
In 2021, Geoffrey Ouma ventured into the field of data analytics, recognizing its vast potential. Fuelled by his passion for technology and education, he founded Sevenett LLC, a technology training company based in Washington State, USA, with regional offices in Nairobi.
Training programs
Under his leadership, Sevenett offers dynamic data analytics training programs tailored to address contemporary digital challenges. These programs include intensive five-month Data Analysis Boot Camps and advanced 3-month Data Science courses, conducted through expert-led virtual classroom sessions facilitated by Video Conferencing Technology.
“We meticulously maintain an ideal pace during the sessions to ensure participants comprehend concepts, especially during hands-on segments,” he says. “The training is interactive, engaging, and practical, with a keen focus on real-world applications.”
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