Girl who scored three As in KCPE attempts suicide over fees

Faith Mutheu and her daughter (partly blurred) yesterday. They have been unable to raise school fees for the bright girl to join high school. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

A girl who sat for KCPE exams last year but failed to join high school due to lack of school fees attempted to kill herself before she was saved by a neighbour.

The fourteen-year-old Cynthia Mueni scored 368 marks and secured a place at St Francis Misiani Girls’ High School. She was expected to have reported by mid last week.

She scored three A's in Mathematics, Kiswahili and Science.

The first born in a family of two had been schooling at Ghetto Excellent Star Academy in Mlolongo under the sponsorship of neighbours.

The school absorbs poor children who fail to get admission in the area public schools.

Before the suicide attempt, she has had been camping day-long at her former school's gate in tears.

''I just can’t live to see my mother suffer. She is not even able to give us food let alone education. My dream of becoming a journalist is now doomed,'' she said.

She scored three A's in Mathematics, Kiswahili and Science.

When she tried to take away her life this week, a neighbor came to her rescue.

Her mother Faith Mutheu, say she is jobless and sometimes is unable to feed her children. They live in a single room and barely affords the Sh1, 000 rent.

Her former school teacher praised the girl for her determination despite myriad challenges.

“She is a very bright girl and she was one of our best students in the last year standard eight class. I just hope that well-wishers will take up her cause and educate her,'' said her former headteacher Dominic Omondi.

The family has appealed to well-wishers for help.

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