A girl from Busia who sat her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 2022, Mercy Nanjala, is still stranded at home for lack of fees despite passing her exams.
Mercy, 17, scored 292 marks at Airstrip Primary School and was called to join St. John’s Alupe Secondary School in Teso South Sub-County.
Just a week before the end of term one, Mercy is a distraught person, with the prospect of never pursuing secondary education growing day by day.
Speaking to our reporter at their rented semi-permanent house in the Ebenezer area of Burumba Ward, Mercy said she is slowly losing hope in life as she is determined to pursue her education to achieve her cherished dream of becoming a hardresser.
“I am hoping for a miracle to enable me to join my peers next term since the first term is coming to an end next Thursday,” Mercy said amid tears, adding that she might take a regrettable decision if no good Samaritan will come to her rescue.
Mercy is the firstborn of a single mother, Christine Asirang, from Apatit village in Amukura, Teso Central Sub-County, who ventures into small businesses to fend for her family.
Ms. Asirang said even bringing a meal to the table is a herculean task,noting that she lacks the capacity to raise any money that would have enabled her daughter to join form one.
“The future career of my daughter now lies with the county and national governments or well-wishers to enable her to achieve her cherished dreams. That is my passionate plea to those who value education,” she said.
A neighbor and retired teacher, George Makataa, who reached out to the Western Kenya Times to share Mercy’s predicament, said his love for kids made him want to let the world know of the dire needs of children to pursue education to greater heights.
He noted that poverty is a bottleneck that has seen many children abandon school, urging good Samaritans to come to Mercy’s rescue to enable her to pursue her secondary education.
Godfrey Wamalwa is a Bungoma-based journalist who enjoys writing Politics, Crime, Sports and Education.
