Dominic Mukaya had resorted to burning charcoal to raise fees to join Form One/Tom Lutali, WKT
The dreams of a better life for two young children from Sipande Village in Mautuma Ward, Lugari Sub-county, a brother and a sister, may never come to pass after they failed to join Form One for lack of fees and have now resorted to burning charcoal and washing clothes for people to raise fees.
Dominic Mukaya, 13, and Tracy Naova’s family is poor; their father, Samuel Mulinya, is a charcoal burner, a trade in which he has recruited his son Dominic in order to raise fees for him.
Tracy, 12, washes clothes for neighbors to help her family earn a living as well as save some money with the hope of joining secondary school.
Their mother doesn’t have a job and remains a housewife.
The two children want to be teachers in the future and help their family fight poverty that has taken root and is now threatening to trample on their potential.
“The poverty in our home is becoming worse. We don’t have anything that our father can sell and let us go to school. We’re worried,” Tracy said.
Patrick Barasa, a neighbor, said it is so sad to see this kids staying at home without going to school while the government insists 100% transition.
“Let them walk in the villages and see the reality. This family is struggling a lot with no food and no means to take their children to school,” he said.
The family is calling upon well-wishers to help the two children join secondary school and continue with their education.
Dominic and Tracy did their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 2022 at Sipande Primary School and scored 174 and 199 marks respectively.
Tom Lutali is a seasoned scribe based in Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County who writes human interest stories and sports for WKT.
