VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANDIDATE READY TO JOIN HIGH SCHOOL AFTER POSTING GOOD RESULTS

A pupil from Bomet county who scored 409 marks in the 2016 Kenya certificate of primary Education examination and who has been having visual impairment since birth is gearing towards joining high school.

Norman Kipkemoi who hails from Kipyosit village in Bomet East sub county who finds it hard to read small print and has to hold a book close to his face even with the help of spectacles is scheduled to join Kapsabet Boys High school a national school in Nandi county on 2nd January 2017 after being admitted to the school following the great results.

The boy who would like to pursue a degree in Neurosurgery after high school. He studied at Kipyosit Primary school before joining Visionary Academy for less than one year where he sat for his KCPE.Thanks to, Kipyosit Head teacher Mr. Sigilai who assisted him during his time at the school.He used to sit him close to the door where there was more light to enable him to see better what he read in his books and on the blackboard.

“I thank Mr. Sigilai and all teachers for their help and God for this result. I would like to tell other pupils to work hard because such an opportunity in life is rare so work hard to post good results.” He said.

His fee needs have also been secured after he was successfully considered for Wings to Fly Equity Bank scholarship programme that will see his fees and other requirements being catered for, for the next four years in high schools.

Kipkemoi could not celebrate much during the release of the results because he was undergoing a one-month initiation to adulthood in seclusion with other age mates as per the Kipsigis culture when the good news was brought home.

The bright boy who had to sit for large print exam papers attributes his success to hard work. He said that he used every time before the exam to revise his notes and textbooks as well as being keen to listen to his teachers during class time.

According to his elder brother Mr. Leornard Kibet Ngetich who also paid his school fees and the sole provider of their family of five children and a mother.According to him it was not been a walk in the park for the boy who has had to undergo two eye treatments in 2008 and 2009 at Tenwek Mission hospital to save his sight.

“My mum has the same problem and as much as this condition seem to be hereditary its only our mum, Kipkemoi who is our fourth born and our last born who is in standard four who have been adversely affected by the condition. Our last born lost his sight and currently uses Braille to study.” Mr. Ngetich revealed.

He added that due to financial constraints it was difficult to take the two boys to hospital and he managed to assist Kipkemoi and that was as much as he could have done under the situation noting that he has helped two of his other siblings to complete high school but they are currently at home because he cannot raise fees to take them to college from his meager income that is coming from small-scale farming.

“Where we have reached we thank God because I have managed to take all my siblings to school and I am still going to do more despite the fact that I am not employed but what I get from farming I will use to assist them.” He said.

He also thanked Equity bank for its assistance through the scholarship that will see Kipkemoi being sponsored from Form one to four and all school needs to be catered for by the bank.

“Tomorrow (31st December 2016) we shall have an elaborate celebration where we shall have area leaders and residents converging with teachers and parents of Visionary Academy in Chemaner to thank God for the results and doctors of Tenwek for their assistance to my brother.” Mr. Ng’etich said.