Story of Viral Turkana Boy Who Joined Kapsabet High

A side-by-side image of Fred Ekiru posing a photo with his parents outside Kapsabet High school and his parents waiting during the admission process.
A side-by-side image of Fred Ekiru posing a photo with his parents outside Kapsabet High school and his parents waiting during the admission process.
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As Form Ones began reporting to school last week, a viral photo of a Turkana student being admitted at Kapsabet Boys moved Kenyans. 

The photos, which went viral, captured Fred Ekiru and his parents posing outside the school, depicting a determined boy who had overcome all odds to score 403 out of 500 marks in the 2021 KCPE exams. 

In a TV interview, Ekiru noted that his parents were elated after he was selected to join Kapsabet High, his dream school. He stated his parents expressed pride in his hard work and determination and sought to accompany him on the admission day. 

Education CS George Magoha addresses the media alongside Kapsabet High student, Fred Ekiru on May 7, 2022.
Education CS George Magoha addresses the media alongside Kapsabet High student, Fred Ekiru on May 7, 2022.
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"To all Kenyans, I'm feeling very appreciative of your love and support and I promise to work hard. My parents were proud when they heard that I was called to join one of the top schools in Kenya and that's why they decided to follow me up to the school."

"I worked hard because I knew my parents were not able to pay for my fees and so I knew the reason as to why I was in school. I want to remove my parents from poverty. I plan to buy them a big house and a car," he stated. 

Among the challenges that Ekiru had to overcome include lack of food whereby he had to only eat one meal in a day as well as inadequate learning materials like books. 

"One of the challenges I faced is hunger. You wake up in the morning without any breakfast or lunch, as you only expect supper. The other challenge is the lack of textbooks though I managed to score 403 marks. I pledged to myself that even if the exam would be easy or hard, I would still score over 400 marks," he reiterated. 

Ekiru noted that his dream is to score an A after four years and pursue engineering overseas. 

"This is because I want to change the state of Turkana as there is a lack of electricity and tarmacked roads in the area," he stated. 

Kipchumba Maiyo, the chief principal of Kapsabet Boys, expressed gratitude for Ekiru's determination and noted that the school would provide him an equal opportunity to pursue his dreams. 

"When he was been admitted, his parents needed a translator as they could not communicate. The translator was able to share and tell us how Ekiru was brought to school. We received him quite well. For us, we saw a boy who is determined to become an engineer," the principal pointed out. 

Ekiru's plight also caught the attention of Education CS George Magoha who visited the school this past week. The CS lauded the student for his sheer determination and drive in the pursuit of excellence. 

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