Emmanuel Wachenje's dream of becoming a civil engineer will now be closer to reality after he was gifted Ksh232,000 to cover his high school education at Maranda High School.
The student, who sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCSE) exams in 2021 in Wundanyi, Taita Taveta and garnered 410 marks. His plight was featured on KTN News where he and his family were crestfallen over their inability to raise school fees - noting that he came from a poor family and lives with a sickly mother, Foster Makalanga.
Three weeks after his plight was aired, the Institute of Engineers has offered to settle his entire secondary school fees.
While offering the family the cheque at their home, a representative from the institution noted that the funds would cover school fees for his first two years.
He further noted that fees for the final two years of school would be paid by the engineers' body after a meeting between members and their President expected to be held soon.
"You are going to be even a better professor in anything you want to be because the Institution of engineers is going to support you. Today we have brought you a cheque of Ksh232,000 and that is just for two years.
"When we go to meet the President of the Institution of Engineers he is going to add you some more so that you have full school fees," stated the representative.
While receiving the cheque, an elated Wachenje thanked the institution for the support and promised to work hard.
"I thank God for the engineers who came forward after learning of my plight. I thank them for the support they have given me and now I see will study well without any challenges," he stated.
While fighting away tears, Makalanga urged her son to work hard in school and support other students whenever he can owing to the source of his fees.
"God bless you abundantly. I pray that my child should study hard looking where he has come from and those who have supported him. It is not his brother or uncle who helped him but people he met for the first time.
"When he succeeds, he should have the same heart and help others," she remarked amid tears, "I am so happy."
Makalanga, who is battling a Kidney disease, raised Wachenje and his kin after the death of her husband in June 2018. He had been the family's solo breadwinner.
