Lack of fees dimming boy’s dream of joining Alliance High School

When he received an admission letter to join one of the prestigious schools in Kenya, 16 years old Moses Jembe Mrima was elated.

But his joy was short lived after his mother told him that he could not join the school due to lack of finances.

Primary education could be the end of his learning.

But determined to further his education and attain his goals, Jembe started looking for sponsors from different banks within Mishomoroni.

But his endeavours were futile as he has not been successful to get any financial support.

Armed with the admission letter from join Alliance High School Mrima and his mother decided to visit the Nation Coast bureau office and narrate his story.

The second born child in a family of six children says his mother whom they live with in Bombolulu area in Mombasa County earns a living from washing clothes.

MOTHER SEPARATED

He says his mother now struggles to bring them up after she separated with their father who did odd jobs to bring food on the table and always came home drunk.

“I have completed my primary school education.

I have been admitted to join Alliance High School.

But my mother who is our sole breadwinner cannot afford to pay the required fees from her work of washing clothes.

My elder brother never completed his education due to the same predicament,” narrated Jembe.

“But I want my life story to be different because as the second born I want to be a role model to my siblings,” he said, insisting that he must find a sponsor in order to complete his education.

The 16 years old boy who attained 390 marks out of the possible 500 in the 2013 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam says his ambition of becoming a neurologist may just be a mirage as his mother is not able to raise his high school fees.

ADMITTED TO ALLIANCE

Jembe got an admission letter from Alliance High School after the selection exercise for national schools was done.

From the letter he is required to report to the school in Kikuyu, Kiambu County on February 4, 2014 after paying all the school fees required for the first term.

He is also required to buy other items including school uniform.

“My primary school life was really hard with a lot of obstacles.

I lived with my grandmother in Sagana and since she had no money I had to go to school on empty stomach most of the times,” Jembe narrated.

He emerged the top candidate at Kiine Primary School in Sagana, Kirinyaga County.

His family had banked their hopes on Equity Bank’s Wings to Fly scholarships, KCB Bank and Co-operative Bank Scholarships but they were late to apply, says his mother Riziki Kaloki Dzombo.

“I had no clue that there were scholarships from banks to support needy students pursue their education.

My neighbour told me about those sponsors but it was too late,” she said.

Ms Riziki told the Nation that she cannot save enough to enable his bright son continue with his schooling because she earns too little and has many mouths to feed.

She is calling on well-wishers to help in the education of her child.

“He has done his best but I feel he may not live to fulfill his dream due to lack of school fees,” she added.