A bright girl from Mautuma Ward in Lugari Sub-county is on the verge of dropping out of school for lack of fees after two politicians failed to keep their promise of fully sponsoring her secondary education.
The story of Ann Veronicah, who scored 378 marks, and her sister Lonah Agape, who scooped 413 marks, went viral, and they both received pledges from well-wishers who promised to fully fund their secondary education.
They both sat their KCPE 2021 at Free Methodis Umoja Primary School in Mautuma Ward.
Lonah received a sponsorship from a local businessman, Mr. John Otieno Ogola, to join St. Bridgit Girls in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, while her sister was offered a sponsorship to Archibishop Njenga Girls in Lugari by two politicians: Alex Atingo, who is seeking the Lugari parliamentary seat, and Charles Anyona, who is vying for the Mautuma Ward seat.
Ann’s mother, Mama Pamela Ayuma, however, told the Western Kenya Times that Mr. Atingo and Mr. Anyona only paid first term fees of Sh17,000 and bought a blanket, a mattress, a bucket and a pair of school uniform for her daughter.
“I have tried reaching out to Mr. Atingo through his agents, but it has not borne any fruit. I would like to urge any good Samaritan out there to help my daughter. I am nursing a one-month-old child to who I gave birth in July. I don’t work,” she said.
Mama Ayuma said that her daughter was sent home two weeks ago for lack of fees.
“Her father was forced to go to school to talk to the school management so that she could be allowed in,” she added, saying that her second term arrears stand at Sh11,329.
On Lonah Agape’s side, she is continuing well with her studies after Mr. Otieno kept the promise of fully funding her secondary education.
“I’m very happy because Mr. Otieno is paying all my school fees and doing my shopping for me. When we close school, he sends me a person to come and pick me up from the school,” she said.
She also thanked the Western Kenya Times for covering their story.
Tom Lutali is a seasoned scribe based in Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County who writes human interest stories and sports for WKT.
Reach Alex Atingo through Mr Felix Wanjala 0717107920