As first-year students continue to join various institutions of higher learning to pursue their dream careers this September, 18-year-old Geofrey Maina Isaboke from Bonchari Constituency in Kisii is a worried student.
Despite sitting for the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at St. Joseph’s School Rapogi in the neighbouring county and scoring an A of 83 points, his hopes of joining the university are slowly dwindling.
Isaboke has been offered admission at the University of Nairobi to study Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; however, the financial situation back home is making it difficult for him to accept the offer.
The 18-year-old is now calling on well-wishers to assist him in furthering his studies at the university, adding that he has applied for the government scholarship under the new university funding model but is unsure if it will cater for his entire education.
“I have equally written an email to the Office of the President asking for financial assistance. If anyone is willing to help, let them show us some mercy,” he said.
Isaboke lauded his former high school teachers, saying they significantly contributed to his success and even gave him pocket money once in a while.
According to his mother, Jackline Maina, her first-born son Isaboke has been receiving financial aid from well-wishers throughout his primary and secondary education.
The mother of three told the press that a well-wisher had supported her son’s education at Rapogi School between Form One and Form Three before she fell ill and could not continue paying his school fees.
As such, Maina talked to the school’s principal to allow her son to register for the KCSE exams with the promise that she would settle the fee balance in due course, a request that was granted due to the exemplary performance of Isaboke at that time.
However, she has been unable to raise the fee balance of Sh70,000 because the family depends on odd jobs that pay a minimum wage of Sh150 per day to cater for their daily needs.
Maina appealed to the local political leaders and other well-wishers to come to their aid and help her son achieve his dream of becoming a cardiologist.
She confirmed that they had sought financial assistance locally through the bursary application, but none of their efforts have been fruitful.
Any financial support can be sent to Isaboke’s mother via Mpesa number: 0712695260.
By Mercy Osongo
