Poor Baringo boy admitted to Alliance High appeals for help

Maiywa Kipkirui Bedan who has been selected to join Alliance High School. [PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD]

Maiywa Kipkirui Bedan is more than a village champion.

He was the third top pupil in Baringo County in this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam after scoring 421 marks.

 Bedan beat 21 pupils who sat KCPE at Little Friends Academy in Mogotio and was yesterday selected to join Alliance High School.

But the boy’s dream of becoming a pilot after clearing his education could be dashed due to lack of school fees. His father died recently and his mother, Selly Jepkemoi, is facing difficulty in raising the required school fees.

The mother, employed at a local hardware shop in Mogotio, said she was not sure how to raise the required amount.

The boy lost his father in 2014 and his mother, a casual labourer, cannot afford to raise fees.

“I am celebrating my boy’s academic achievements but where to get his school fees is the problem. Alliance is a highly competitive national school and my boy’s position risks being taken by a child from a well-off family,” said the mother as she appealed for assistance from well wishers to have the boy’s dream actualised.

Bedan’s former head teacher David Kigen said his school had been paying his fees since his father passed on.

His mother explained how she struggled to ensure her son excelled in KCPE examination.

“It has not been smooth going since I lost my husband. Feeding my five children and ensuring they are in school has been a burden to me,” said Selly.

Her first-born child who was admitted this year to Machakos University depends on bursaries and fund-raisers. The rest are in primary school.

“I have no means to raise fees for my son. I am appealing to well wishers and the Government to help him pursue his dream,” she pleaded.

Mr Kigen said after gaining admission at the school established 10 years ago, the boy picked up the pieces and concentrated on studies.

He described the boy as disciplined and focussed.

The school had a mean score of 395.71 marks.

Other children who scored 400 and above marks were Chirchir Delvin Jematian (408), Bett Gideon Kipruto (419), Langat Jonathan Kibet (424), Bundotich Doreen Jepyegon (409) and Biwot Avyline Jerop (400).