Former barmaid scores B in national exam

27-year-old Mary Akinyi, a former barmaid scores B+ in the 2023 KCSE examination.[Isiah Gwengi, Standard]

A former barmaid who had dropped out of school in Standard Four has scored a B+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam.

Mary Akinyi joined Ran'gala Girls High School at the age of 23.

Akinyi said she decided to go back to school due to mockery from patrons at the bar where she worked in Bondo town.

According to Akinyi, poverty and lack of school fees had pushed her to look for ways to survive and support her mother.

This, however, changed when she opted to go back and sit her KCPE exam where she scored 362 marks.

"I had challenges of school fees but through well a well-wisher, I managed to join Ran'gala Girls," said Akinyi.

Akinyi, who hails from Yiro village in Yimbo East Ward, Bondo sub-county, told The Standard that she faced so many challenges that pushed her to work as a barmaid.

"I worked as a barmaid in Bondo and Siaya towns after dropping out of school. It was not easy because some customers were mocking me," she said.

She added that because of the mockery and mistreatment by customers, she decided to resign and go back to school.

Disadvantaged by age, Akinyi says it was not easy to cope with fellow learners but through guidance and counseling, she focused on her academics.

Charles Ndaga, who was Akinyi's former employer, said she was a hardworking and honest employee.

"She worked well until she resigned. I didn't know that she had gone back to school until she called one day to inform me that she was no longer a Standard Four dropout," said Ndaga.

Although Akinyi was excited about her results, she does not know what the future portends.

The fifth born in a family of nine still owes the school Sh182,620.

"I would like to pursue law but this might not be possible if I don't get my certificate because of the arrears," she said.