Well-wishers have been challenged to come to the aid of a girl from Shanti slums in Kipsongo, Trans Nzoia County, to fulfill her vision through education.
Christine Atai, who scored 320 marks in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam, failed to join St. Teresa’s Girls Bikeke for lack of school fees.
The pupil who approached our Western Kenya Times correspondent in Kitale, narrated that after she failed to report to St Teresa’s Girls Bikeke, she tried to look for a more affordable school around in the hope that a well-wisher would resurface.
Christine said that she walked to St. Columbans, which is a day school located a few kilometers from the Shanti slums, where she was given a fee structure and told to pay Kshs 9,500.
Her mother couldn’t raise that amount because they live in abject poverty.
Christine, who would like to pursue nursing in future, has been camping at the Grassland Primary School in Saboti Constituency, where she sat for her KCPE exams.
“I am worried because some of my colleagues have joined and I am still at home in this slum. I am confused and stressed, I don’t know what to do, that’s why am here,” she said, almost to tears.
Her mother, Elima Aseka, said she has no ability to take Christine to secondary school and is asking well-wishers to intervene.
The headteacher of Grassland Primary School, Samson Chang’orok, who was posted there in the year 2020, said the majority of pupils live with single parents in the slums and it has been difficult for them to join the secondary schools after completing their primary education.
Chang’orok said most of the pupils are from Kipsongo, Shanti and Umoja slums.
He added that the pupils’ situation and the slum environment forced the school to introduce a food program in order to help feed them.
He further said that teachers have helped several pupils in previous years through their small individual contributions.
The school head reiterated that it will be dangerous for Christine to remain in the slums without going to school while politicians who aspire to be leaders are busy searching for votes.
He joined hands with Christine Atai and her mother to ask well-wishers who will ensure the young girl joins Form One.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.
