Top KCPE Candidate Forced to Sell Water at Ksh10 to Raise High School Fees

A collage of KCPE candidate Paul Junior carrying a jerrican of water
A collage of KCPE candidate Paul Junior carrying a jerrican of water
NTV

The 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results were announced on December 21, 2022, by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu who assured all learners of a 100 per cent transition to secondary school.

However, the promise may seem far from being fulfilled for some learners as a sizable number of them continue making appeals to the public and potential sponsors to help them realize the transition. 

An example is Paul Junior, 14, who resulted to selling water at Ksh10 for a ten-litre jerrican to raise funds for his high school education after failing to secure a scholarship.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu during the release of 2022 KCSE results on January 20, 2023.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu during the release of 2022 KCSE results on January 20, 2023.
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Ministry of Education

"I have been called to join the Friends School Kamunsinga but we have no money for school fees. My mother works as a mama fua to buy food and pay rent," Junior disclosed.

The 14-year-old from Uasin Gishu County wrote the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams and scored 410 marks.

He was the top student in his former primary school and was among the 9,443 students who scored more than 400 marks in the KCPE 2022.

However, due to financial constraints, he has no hope of joining high school.

"I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to join form one in our school, congratulations. You are expected to report to your secondary school on Monday, February 6, 2023," read part of the calling letter from the high school.

While appealing to the public and well-wishers for his son's fees, the mother noted that Junior's primary education was catered for by the director of his former primary school.

"I have been up and down looking for a sponsor for my son but no one has helped us. I am worried bout how my son will join the school. I am a casual labourer and get at least one job a week," the mother lamented.

His plea came barely hours after another candidate wrote to the US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman seeking a scholarship.

A collage of US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman (left) and part of the letter from KCPE candidate Bruno Kibet (right)
A collage of US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman (left) and part of the letter from KCPE candidate Bruno Kibet (right)
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