A top KCPE girl's parent narrated a heartbreaking story of how her smart daughter who had defied the odds to struggle through primary school was in dire need of financial assistance to achieve her dreams.
Lydia Christopher Oyamo, 14, garnered 401 marks in the 2019 KCPE examinations at C.M.F Excellent Education Center, Nairobi and earned admission to the Kisumu Girls High School.
For the past three years, her primary school principal, Denis Mugambi, paid her school fees after the father, Christopher Juma, who resides in Nairobi's Kayole estate with his family, became ill and bedridden.
"I wish to recommend financial assistance as the family is needy. The parents are casual labourers getting low and unpredictable earnings. I have known the family since 2016 and due to the condition of the family, I offered some sponsorship which was depleted this year. I wish that you assist her," the principal signed in a notice to well-wishers.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, her father affirmed that he wass incapacitated and that only his wife was feeding the family from the inconsistent income of odd jobs.
He went on to reveal that Oyamo, who was the third born, had three other siblings, Emma, Stella and Penninah. Emma and Stella, who were older had completed Form Four but could not proceed with their studies.
"Emma is with us at home. Stella was lured by a local boy and they eloped to marry after she finished her high school education.
"Stella is a smart, hardworking girl and aspires to be a neurosurgeon. I do not wish to see her end up like her sisters. It will break my heart," Juma lamented.
The father, who once ran a utensils hawking business says it pains to helplessly watch as the the dreams of his children dim off.
"As a breadwinner, I could not finance their education as I have not recovered and my savings have been depleted," Juma narrated.
This heartrending tale follows a Friday, December 27, incident where a 13-year-old girl from Kisumu City's Nyalenda slum allegedly penned a suicide note to her parents upon establishing that her parents were unable to afford Ksh 53,544 school fees for her Form One education.
The girl garnered 391 marks at Xarevian Primary School in Kisumu Central and was drafted to join Asumbi Girls High School in early January 2020.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has offered to pay school fees for her, stating that he felt obligated to lend a helping hand.
