It’s dream come true for pastors sitting KCPE examination at 55

By CHARLES NGENO

NAROK, KENYA: At 55, many people are usually thinking of retirement or how to spend their sunset years.

But for two pastors from Mulot in Narok, it is the time to rejuvenate their lives and careers. The two were among over 840,000 candidates who began their KCPE exams yesterday.

Rev Samwuel Mosonik, 56, and Rev Richard Malel, 55, from Africa Gospel Church and Full Gospel Church respectively did their first two exams yesterday at St Peter’s Primary School in Narok.

The desire to offer leadership and preach to an educated congregation made them enroll in Standard Six in 2011. “I am optimistic that I will pass and proceed to secondary school. I want to go up to university and study a degree in counselling,” said Mosonik. The father of five was not lucky to get education in his youth.

Lost opportunities

“I learned of adult education and convinced my friend to enroll with me so that we could realise our dreams of becoming counsellors,” he said. Malel dropped from school while in Class Four, and for all the years, he has lost opportunities because of lack of education.

“My last born child is a second year student at the University of Nairobi while two others are working. My two daughters are married. I now have time to study and finance my education,” said Malel. To offer leadership to his flock, Malel said he realised he needed a good education. “Most of those I lead are educated and to win their confidence, I ought to be literate,” said Malel, who revealed that his peers ridiculed him noting he was wasting time.

“School empowers people. It opens your eyes. Having no education is like groping in the dark. One does not need to be employed after school, but I tell you education opens several doors,” he added.

Mosonik has been elected to serve in different church positions, which requires that he writes, but he could not do it.

“At times it was embarrassing leading a flock of highly-educated individuals yet one is illiterate. Sometimes they came to me seeking written recommendation but I could not do it since I did not know how to write a letter,” he recalled.

Illiteracy

After sitting his first paper yesterday, Mosonik said he was certain he will get good marks that will allow him to join a day secondary school to balance between his studies and family responsibilities.

“Teachers did their work, and I also believe I have done my part. It shall be well, the paper was fair,” he said. Daniel Denken, an adult and continuing education teacher said there were 33 adult learners in different centres in the district sitting for KCPE.

Denken appealed to Government to place more emphasis on adult education. “High level of illiteracy continues to undermine development efforts because 38.5 per cent of Kenyans, who lack minimum literacy levels, cannot actively participate in national development,” said Denken.