Top student pleads for help to raise money for school fees

Mercy Faith Omondi formerly of Baba Dogo Primary School scored 412 in the 2017 KCPE examination. [Photo by David Gichuru/Standard]

Mercy Faith Omondi is worried that her dreams of becoming a doctor may not be realised due to lack of school fees.

The 14–year-old who sat her KCPE last year at Baba Dogo Sacred Heart, emerging the top student with 412 marks, has secured a place at Asumbi Girls High School in Nyanza.

The first-born in a family of two, Mercy, who visited The Standard offices accompanied by a Catholic Brother, Nobert Okumu of Sacred Heart Catholic School, said only Sh22, 000 had been paid to Asumbi Girls by the Government.

She added that the Government’s capitation left her with a balance of Sh53, 000 for admission and other requirements for first term.

Her father Joseph Omondi has been jobless for years due to ill health while her mother Evelyne Atieno is a part-time salonist and earns between Sh150 and Sh200 on a good day.

“Having realised how bright she is and the fact that she had no one to support her education, I took it upon myself to do so making sure that her last term school fees as a candidate was waived to enable her sit for her KCPE exams,” says Mr Okumu.

Her family lives in abject poverty and her state of despair may tell you how her life has been.

One can easily tell life has been tough for the young girl who is eager to continue with her education and realise her dreams.

“There are times when I walked for close to 20 kilometres every day to school,” she says.

And in Makueni, three Standard Eight leavers are seeking financial help to join Form One.

The three include a 17-year-old boy from Shimo La Tewa Borstal institution who scored 406 marks in last year’s KCPE and needs Sh53, 000 for school fees.

In Makindu, Obed Muthoka, 16, who scored 415 marks, is also seeking help to join Machakos Boys.

Muthoka’s mother, Monica Mulumbi, is single and does not make enough from the odd jobs she does.

Kanini Mutheu, 14, from Kalima Koi is also in dilemma as her grandmother Jemimah Wayua cannot afford to pay the fees demanded by Mama Ngina Girls. Kanini scored 373 marks.