This all changed during a gap year before university when he spent time in Kigoma, in the northwest of Tanzania. The year was 1994 and the Rwandan genocide was at its most murderous phase, forcing a huge influx of refugees into Tanzania. While in Kigoma, January got a job in the refugee camps, first as a Registration Clerk and later as an Assistant Camp Manager for the second biggest camp in Kigoma, known to its residents as Mtibila II. Witnessing the extraordinary daily suffering of human beings in the camps left an indelible mark on the young January, and from then on he made a promise to himself that he will dedicate his life to public service, to ensure that such untold suffering never happens again.
Kwasababu ya mambo niliyosomea, nilibahatika kufanya naye kazi kwa karibu, hasa wakati ule akishughulikia mgogoro wa Burundi. Nilikuwa sisiti kuandika mawazo na uchambuzi wangu kuhusu masuala mbalimbali tuliyokuwa tunashughulika nayo kama Wizara. Nadhani aliona uwezo wangu, kwahiyo alipoamua kugombea Urais akanitaka niwe Msaidizi wake wakati wa Kampeni. Nikabahatika kuzunguka naye nchi nzima, nikimsaidia kuandika notes zake kila anapohutubia na kuhakikisha mambo yanaenda vizuri kwenye safari zake za kampeni. Alipofanikiwa akanipa heshima ya kuwa mmoja wa Wasaidizi wake hapa Ikulu. 3. Je ukijipima, unadhani umefanikiwa kutimiza wajibu wako sawia wa kumsaidia rais Kikwete wakati wote ulipofanya kazi naye? Hili ni swali la Rais mwenyewe.