One of the top 2023 KCPE candidates at a public primary school in Nanyuki Town, Laikipia County is yet to join Form One due to lack of fees.

Collins Ogong’o who comes from a humble background was the second best candidate at Nanyuki DEB Primary School with 358 marks out of the possible 500.

But the moment of joy following the sterling performance has now turned into an agonizing moment for Collins and his mother Evelyn Akinyi, with chances of the boy joining Naromoru High School becoming dimmer with each passing day.

Searching for bursaries

According to Akinyi, she applied for various scholarships but her son was not among those considered and the single mother of two has pegged hopes on well-wishers as her daily earnings are barely enough for food and rent.

Latest data from the Ministry of Education has ranked Laikipia County on the lead countrywide on transitions from primary to secondary schools.

But tens of students are still at home, nearly three weeks after the official reporting day, with parents saying day schools are still out of reach for their children.

Collins Ogong’o’s Irony

Meanwhile, Laikipia Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli on Monday flagged off some 76 bright but needy students from the county who have benefited from the national government’s Elimu Scholarship Programme.

During the exercise held outside the County Education Office, the students received personal items to use while in schools with their full four-year fees already catered for in the programme.

Among the beneficiaries of the scholarship programme are 35 boys and 41 girls who scored 280 marks and above in last year’s KCPE.

Mr Muli advised bright and needy students still stuck at home due to lack of school fees to initiate dialogue with their school principals to be allowed to join schools as they seek alternative bursaries.