Anastasia Atabo Lokor, a student from Turkana County whose plight was highlighted by media houses late last year after she failed to join the university over lack of school fees, has finally been admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).
Anastasia will finally be able to pursue Bachelor of Education Science degree at the university after she received support from the Legio Maria church.
Having scored a B- in 2023, Anastasia was admitted to JOOUST but failed to join in September last year after her family was unable to raise fee to pursue her education.
The student who was elated but emotional when she stepped in the compound of JOOUST main campus in Bondo disclosed that she resorted to selling water at her home in Turkana East inorder to raise money to pursue her dreams.
“I was a bit disappointed when my classmates were joining campus last year and I remained home because I did not have money, I decided to sell water to raise funds,” said Anastasia.
She is however, thankful to the Legio Maria church members for supporting her after her plight was aired in the media saying they have made it possible for her to realize her dream.
The first born in the family of nine children say she looks forward to becoming a teacher after completing her studies so that she can help her siblings and also transform the situation of their family which is struggling in poverty.
According to Bishop Martin Nyahoa of Legio Maria Bondo Diocese, the church will give Anastasia full financial support during her four-year study.
Bishop Nyahoa said the church learnt about the plight of Anastasia in the media and decided to intervene because, apart from being from poor background, she is also a member of the Legio Maria church in Turkana.
He disclosed that the church has been supporting education of many students across all the public universities in the country and called upon the beneficiaries of any kind of sponsorship to remember to give back to the society so that other students can also be supported.
Jooust registrar of academic and student affairs, Dr. Walter Akuno, confirmed that Anastasia has been officially admitted to the university.
Dr. Akuno however explained that students who get admission to JOOUST should not fail to report due to lack of school fees.
He said the University has an arrangement to help students who do not have fees get admission before they are assisted to apply for HELB loans and bursaries while in campus.
“I know Anastasia, coming from a humble background in Turkana, may not have had information, and she has lost a whole year of study, but all is not lost. We have officially admitted her but the same should not happen to any student admitted to study in JOOUST. They should just report and be guided accordingly,” Akuno advised.
The Association of Students from Turkana and Samburu at University led by their chair, Lobwinde Dikar, gathered at the campus to welcome one of their own, promising her their full support to ensure she is comfortable at the campus.
By Brian Ondeng
