Pupil excels despite lack of fees

Leevan Kandie (centre) with his father Isaac Chebon (right) and Radiance Academy Director Mercy Kibe (left), in the school within Nakuru on December 22, 2022. [Daniel Chege, Standard]

Leevan Kandie, 14, of Radiance Academy in Nakuru County scored 409 marks in the 2022 KCPE examination.

He said he had a target of 430 marks but he fell short by 21.

Kandie's mother is unemployed and his father Isaac Chebon survives on menial jobs.

Chebon said many times they lacked what to eat at home and could not pay fees for his firstborn child.

The family's farming venture failed due to the prolonged drought.

"The only thing that survived during the famine was wheat. We lacked food and money," he said.

Chebon said he pleaded with the school to help educate his son, and the institution heeded his pleas and paid half of Kandie's fees over the last two years.

Kandie, who wants to join Kapsabet Boys High School, and study architecture in college, said he had short revision time in the last year.

He recalled how he developed an eye problem that kept him out of school for days.

In the final school term, the struggling family had to buy him eyeglasses.

"I had pain in my eyes and I could not see well. It affected my studies because I had a short time to revise," he said.

Kandie said at one point he had to be sent home for fees because had not paid for sometime.

He is grateful to the school Director Mercy Kibe who saw his potential and decided to assist him to finish his studies.

"The director, teachers and my parents have been very supportive and I want to say thank you to them," he said in tears.

When he received his results, Kandie was at home. At first, he said he was disappointed but later accepted the results.

He said he used to score over 430 marks and believed he could have topped the whole country if it were not for the challenges he underwent.

The Saturday Standard established that Kandie was paying about Sh32,000 per term; the school paid half of it, every term.

Chebon appealed to well-wishers to help advance his son's education, saying he does not have the means.

Kibe described Kandie as a bright pupil who was disciplined and full of potential.

She said she noted that Kandie's father was stressed because of fees and decided to help out.

"I saw Kandie being chased from school and I did not like it. I felt there was a need to tap into his potential," she said.

Kibe said the school had 10 pupils with over 400 marks and of the 62 candidates, 40 scored above 350.

She said teamwork, commitment and resilience helped the school improve in its performance from last year.

"Good relationships between teachers, parents and management were key. Also, we motivated our teachers," she said.