It was joy after a bright and needy student in Laikipia County finally received a scholarship to enable him to join Starehe boys centre, a school of his dream.
The future of Brandon Murimi who had scored 402 marks in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in Nanyuki Primary School appeared uncertain with his single mother making numerous appeals to well-wishers for assistance.
The plight of the pupil was highlighted in the media last year after the mother expressed fear that Murimi would never achieve his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon due to poverty that engulfed them at their rural home in Mathagiro Village, Umande Ward in Laikipia East Sub County.
When the press caught up with him and the family in Nanyuki Town during Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation scholarship awarding ceremony yesterday, they could not hide their joy since the bright boy’s dream of joining the prestigious school was assured after the scholarship support.
“I had no hope of continuing with my studies, but God has really been on my side. I got a calling letter from my school of choice, Starehe. I had heard its glory in supporting the poor students, and at the same time, I am grateful that KCB has further fulfilled that dream,” Murimi told the media yesterday.
The 14-year-old, in the past media interview, had attributed his stellar performance despite many hurdles to hard work and determination with hope to uplift the family from poverty.
Murimi who is second born in the family said that his mother took care of their eldest son who was 28-years old and bedridden as a full time job hence robbing them a chance to make ends meet.
He had revealed that, most of the days, they depended on support from the community for food aid since they had no sustainable income. He further said that was optimistic that he would change their family status after completing his studies.
Judy Muthoni, a parent to Murimi, expressed gratitude for the scholarship and noted that it was their only hope to secure the future of the bright boy amid the economic hardship.
At the same time, 14 other bright and needy students expected to join form one in various secondary schools in the County were also benefited with the KCB scholarship.
Nanyuki KCB Branch Manager Ms Oliver Ongeri said that they had set aside about Sh.800 million to support the education for the bright and needy students in the Country.
She revealed that over 500 students from economic disadvantaged backgrounds in the County had applied for the scholarship despite the limited slots and at the same time revealed that over 12,000 needy students had applied for the scholarship in the Country. She attributed the huge number of applicants to the harsh economy.
“Last year, the economy was harsh including a poor business environment and we received the highest scholarship applications of over 12,000 countrywide. But, every year, we normally benefit a thousand, so count yourself lucky,” she told the beneficiaries.
Laikipia CEC in charge of education Stephen Kisorio urged the scholarship beneficiaries to focus on their studies or risk their support being withdrawn and at the same time warned parents against neglecting their duties even after KCB relieving them of the burden of school fees.
On her part, Laikipia CEC in charge of Administration, cautioned the beneficiaries from engaging in wayward behaviors that could lead to teen pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted diseases hence robbing them of their bright future.
By Muturi Mwangi
