Big Ted: How a D Plain Student Rose to Become Kenya’s Top Diplomat in Los Angeles

Thomas Kwaka Omollo, popularly known as Big Ted, rose from earning a D Plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) to serving as Kenya’s Consul-General in Los Angeles.

Omollo’s career has taken him from gospel rap and event production to senior public service and international diplomacy. His path challenges the assumption that KCSE results determine a person’s professional future.

In Kenya, examination results carry considerable weight. KCSE grades often influence how students’ abilities and prospects are judged, with top grades celebrated by schools, families and communities. Against this culture, a D Plain from a prestigious school such as Nairobi School can be viewed as a major setback.

Omollo chose a different path. After completing school, he entered the creative industry, initially working in gospel rap before establishing himself as an event producer and master of ceremonies. Through this work, he developed skills in communication, audience engagement, emotional intelligence and brand storytelling.

Those skills later became central to his public-sector career. In 2013, Omollo was appointed Director of Brand Strategy and Events at State House, a position he held for nearly a decade. During his tenure, he received a Head of State Commendation and built a reputation as a strategist involved in shaping national events and public narratives.

In 2022, his career moved into diplomacy when he was appointed Kenya’s Consul-General in Los Angeles. The position involved economic diplomacy, engagement with the Kenyan diaspora and efforts to promote Kenya as a destination for investment and cultural exchange.

Omollo drew on his experience in branding, media and the creative sector in his diplomatic work. He worked to strengthen the consulate’s role as a link between American businesses and opportunities in Kenya.

His work in Los Angeles received several forms of recognition, including the “Diplomat of the Year” award at the Los Angeles Diplomatic Gala and honours for his contribution to the creative economy.

Omollo’s career has also featured in discussions around Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which places greater emphasis on skills, problem-solving, adaptability and talent development alongside academic knowledge. Omollo has since returned to Kenya, where he continues to work on domestic and international initiatives. He serves as Coordinator of the Global Trust Summit under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, works as a consultant on creative economy projects and is a global brand ambassador for the Kenya Network Information Centre (.ke).

Through these roles, he remains involved in initiatives focused on digital trust, economic opportunity and the growth of Kenyan enterprises. Omollo’s career reflects a professional journey that moved beyond his early academic performance.