Top KCPE pupil in school fees plea

Moses Lokoko 19 years old, former Nyenyesi primary school pupil who scored 391 marks in KCPE last year has resolved to venture into bricks making project after his dreams of joining Alliance Boys high school were deemed due high poverty level in his family at Shitsitswi village in Kakamega County . Lokoko is appealing to well wishers to assist him realize his dream of becoming an enginner. By Benjmain Sakwa

A 19-year-old boy from Shitsitswi village in Butere has demonstrated that resilience and determination is perhaps all one needs to get ahead in life.

Moses Lukoko, who comes from a very poor background, scored 391 marks in last year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and emerged the best pupil in his class.

Thanks to his sterling performance, the former Nyenyesi Primary School pupil was selected to join Alliance Boys High School in Kikuyu.

However, Lukoko may not join the prestigious school as his parents are not able to raise school fees. In fact, so poor is the family that they cannot even raise money to take him to the local secondary school.

But never one to lose hope, Lukoko has opted to start making bricks to raise money to join a secondary school at his village.

"After the results were announced, I was happy and sad at the same time because of the difficulties I went through while studying for the exams. I could not even afford paraffin to do my homework. Many nights, I went to bed hungry,'' said the boy, who aspires to be an engineer.

 Help others

When The Standard visited him in his remote village yesterday, he was hard at work making bricks hopefully to join secondary school next month.

And despite the odds stacked against him,  Lukoko, who was wearing his school uniform, was upbeat about continuing with his education.

"My prayer is to get well-wishers to support my education so that in future I can also help other bright children from poor backgrounds. My dream is to be an engineer,'' Lukoko promised.

Lukoko, the only son in a family of five children, says he will forever be indebted to his teachers.

"They knew I am a bright and disciplined pupil. They came to my aid and promised to cater for my registration fee, uniform, stationery and paraffin as I prepared to sit my KCPE,'' says Lukoko.

So far, he has only managed to make 300 bricks, with each going for Sh4.

"The work is involving. In a day, I can make around 60 bricks,'' he noted.

No scholarship

Milcah Wanyama, his mother, says her effort to secure a scholarship for him have been futile, but hopes that well-wishers will heed her son's cry and assist him to continue with his education. "We applied for the Wings to Fly scholarship but we were unsuccessful. My wish is that he will continue with his studies,'' said the mother.