Form One student finds sponsor on social media

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] social media post highlighting the plight of a 13-year-old orphaned boy, who scored 400 marks in 2017 KCPE exams, has saved him from missing his Form One slot for lack of school fees after a well-wisher came to his aid yesterday.

Joshua Mang’atta could not hide his joy when he received phone call from a well-wisher that his Form One fees of Ksh 53,554 had been fully paid. Speaking on Monday in Isinya town, Kajiado County while receiving the good news, Mang’atta said his hopes have been raised that his dream of becoming a doctor would become a reality.

“I thank God for the well-wishers who saw my appeal for school fees on social media and responded with positive news to enable me join secondary school,” said the left handed brilliant boy. “I was almost giving up and remained with the option of repeating standard eight,” he added.

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The young boy, who lost his mother to cancer in February last year, said he wants to study and become a surgeon one day. “I got motivation to study medicine in future after seeing my mother suffer in pain when the doctors in public hospitals were on strike and we could not afford private hospitals,” he said. “My mother died in the house,” he added with desperation.

Mang’atta sat for his KCPE at BJ Dave primary school in Isinya Sub County and emerged among the top candidates in Isinya Sub County, securing admission to Tenwek Boys High school, a national school in Bomet County. He was set to report Tuesday.

According to his brother, Joseph Kuyuni, who is also his guardian, the family of five are total orphans and in dire need of financial support to pursue education.

Kuyuni said he decided to post an appeal for school fees for his brother on social media as the last resort after all avenues of raising fees became fruitless. “Life has not been easy for us since I am jobless and I have to provide basic needs for my other siblings, including my brother Mang’atta,” said the helpless guardian. “We thank the well-wisher who has fully paid fees for my brother,” he added.

Kuyuni said the well-wishers will also do shop for Mang’atta’s personal items as they plan to report to Tenwek High.

He expressed his frustrations from organisations that gave form one scholarships in Kajiado where Mang’atta sat for his KCPE, where only students who were born in the county were given priority.

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He said Mang’atta was born in Bungoma County and he transferred him in the year 2016 when his mother was sick and was working as casual laborer in flower firms within Isinya Sub County.

Though the ministry of Education extended the reporting deadline for Form ones to Wednesday last week, several other needy students like Mang’atta were yet to take up their slots.  The earlier calendar released by the Education Ministry in December 2017 indicated that admissions for form ones were supposed to have been finalized by January 12.

Kenyans of goodwill have heeded to the call by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i early this month to rally support for needy children to enable them join form one.

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