Rodah Shireku, a 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidate, has penned a heartfelt letter to First Lady Rachel Ruto requesting a bicycle.
The candidate noted that she is forced to trek for long distances (more than 3 kilometers) to school, Emusunguri Primary School in Butere, carrying a heavy bag full of books.
In her letter, Shireku also asked the First Lady to provide her with solar-powered lighting to facilitate her studies ahead of the national exams slated to kick off on October 30, 2023.
"First Lady, I thank you for the great work you are doing for Kenyans," read the letter in part.
"I live far from school. May I request you to help me with a bicycle and light to study and carry my books to school."
Her father, Eric Ambuche, told Kenyans.co.ke that he is also worried about raising school fees for his daughter's admission to high school.
Ambuche, who is unemployed and relies on menial jobs to make ends meet, noted that Shireku is a consistent performer and always emerges among the top 10 students in her school.
"She treks for more than 3 kilometers but her biggest challenge is the bag which she uses to carry heavy books. She asked me for a bag which I provided. I hope she can get a bicycle," pleaded the father who lives at Mukuru kwa Njenga in Nairobi.
"We hope we can get a solar light to help her in her evening studies. She is a top performer. I know she will pass and I hope the First Lady can help take her to high school."
The candidate prides herself in her environmental conscious work aligned with conservation efforts championed by Rachel Ruto.
Rachel Ruto, a cycling enthusiast, has championed motorcyclist causes and promoted cyclist safety on Kenyan roads.
"This is why my office advocates for safe riding, with the expectation that motorists respect cyclists and cyclists respect motorists. Unfortunately, too many cyclists have lost their lives on our roads. When we consider the challenges that cyclists face while riding on our roads, we can only express gratitude every time we arrive home safely," she stated in 2023.
In November 2022, the First Lady also adopted 200 hectares of Kakamega Forest in an effort to conserve the environment.
