The hope of an orphan craving for education ended on a positive note after Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC), Florah Mworoa, led Departmental Heads in mobilizing resources, to clear his fees at Mbita High School.
Mworoa was leading the Regional Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-RICMC), as they inspected national government development projects in Homa Bay, Wednesday.
The RC was deeply touched by the story of the young student; Ochieng Clinton Owuor, formerly of Ober Mixed Primary School, Rachuonyo East, Homa Bay County, in a move aimed at fast-tracking the mop-up process, towards attainment of 100 percent transition.
She urged leaders to join hands, so that bright children from poor backgrounds, could be supported to pursue their dreams of better education, as opposed to exposing them to the vagaries of life.
Mworoa took-up the responsibility (adopted) the boy and within less than 30 minutes, the whole fees and payment for other necessities were raised to the joy of the young boy, who stood motionless as the RC helped him dress-up smartly.
Clinton lost all his parents by the time he reached standard four and together with the other two siblings, lived a lonely life, fending for themselves, while attending school at the same time and despite the challenges, still scored 387 Marks in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education ( KCPE) exam.
The boy’s class teacher, Jackline Atieno, narrated that she used to carry packed food for the three desperate siblings, but when things became more difficult, the school summoned their grandmother from Nyakach, Kisumu County, to take in Clinton and the two siblings.
Atieno revealed that Clinton was in Standard six when he joined Kowire Primary School but was often in and out of school, oscillating between their deserted home and grandmother’s place, where they found a new place of abode.
“We kept encouraging the boy to stay with the grandmother and by the Grace of God he finally sat for the KCPE in 2023, where he attained a good grade 387 Marks, which enabled him to be selected to join Mbita High School,” explained Madam Atieno.
As fate would have it, the boy remained at home for lack of fees and no one had so far come forth to support him.
“This is why we think God has worked the miracle by sending to us the RC, who despite being on a different mission, lent an ear leading to Lady Luck, smiling his way,” added Madam Atieno.
Homa Bay County Commissioner, Moses Lilan, then took up the matter working closely with the County Director of Education, Eunice Khaemba, who directed that the boy be taken to school as financial support was being sought from well-wishers.
On learning of the fate of the boy from Lilan, the RC fully adopted Clinton for his education through secondary school, clearing the entire fees, while the contributions from other departmental heads, went towards other basic requirements for the boy.
“This generous gesture by RC Mworoa is quite humbling. God has used the administrator’s arrival here in Homa Bay, as a vessel to carry the young student to his dream of pursuing further education. We cannot take this for granted”, declared Khaemba.
Following the quick intervention, the boy was immediately dispatched to Mbita High School accompanied by Khaemba, the Sub-county Director of Education for Homa Bay, Class teacher and Clinton’s Grandmother, all praising the Almighty for the miracle.
By Joseph Ouma
