General News
Happy Ending For Brave Form Two Student Begging For School Fees On City Streets
A schoolgirl who spent the whole of Wednesday carrying a heavy banner begging for school fees on Nairobi streets now has a reason to smile after receiving help from well-wishers.
15-year-old Mellan Njeri Njuguna a form two student at Kihumbu-ini Secondary School in Murang’a County was sent home on September 10 over Sh29,177 school fees arrears.
A day after sharing her plight, the student received assistance that will see her pursue her dreams.
When we caught up with her at Affecto Foundation in Ruiru that took up her case, happiness was written on her face, her mother Ann Wangechi Mureithi was in tears.
“Her story was painful and for any parent like me, she was feeling that her education is coming to an end and she needs to fight for that opportunity. It’s sad that in future that education will perhaps be only for the? privileged” Ndungu Nyoro, founder and team leader of Affecto Foundation told The Standard.
“We called the school just to confirm that she is student and it is true that she had been having challenges for several terms and we felt that she deserves chance and no child show be denied that right to education” he added.
Nyoro said that the foundation has cleared the fees arrears and have written to the school indicating that it will sponsor her until she clears and beyond.
“We will also assist her in terms of guidance and mentorship around this foundation at the same time we will be inviting experts to come and mentor her and others we have now that she is now under that program in this family,” he explained.
Nyoro said his foundation mostly focus on high school education under Watoto Wasome tagline adding that education is greatest equalizer and so far have sponsored over 100 students in four years with first cohort expected to join university this year.
Njeri says her wish is to pursue fashion design and modeling once she clears her studies.
“I’m grateful and I thank God for that, I have been struggling by all means being sole breadwinner. I didn’t get chance like her because my family was unable to raise funds. I will try my best to see Njeri and her siblings get best education that I didn’t get”, said Ann Wangechi Mureithi, the student’s mother
Nyoro said that anyone assisting a needy student is breaking poverty chain in the society and empowering community through education.
“The standard of living has gone up to an extent that and we have people in society who cannot even afford a meal that is why we assist one another” said Nyoro.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has criticized Kenya for re-implementing the fuel subsidy scheme, expressing concerns that the lack of funds to pay oil marketers could distort the budget.
Despite a previous commitment by President William Ruto in 2022 not to subsidize pump prices, the government reintroduced the subsidy, preventing petrol and diesel prices from reaching higher levels in October 2023.
The IMF argues that the subsidy was applied without available funds, as the Treasury has yet to pay oil marketers at least Ksh9 billion ($55.6 million) accumulated from the previous year. President Ruto’s decision to reinstate subsidies goes against conditions set by the IMF for accessing loans.
Petrol and diesel prices, which were Ksh217.36 ($1.34) and Ksh205.47 ($1.27) respectively in Nairobi in October 2023, remained lower than the potential Ksh220.43 ($1.36) and Ksh217.11 ($1.34) due to the subsidy. However, the IMF disapproves of the decision, emphasizing that the removal of the subsidy was a key condition for a 38-month budget support scheme.
The IMF criticizes the prolonged process of forming a taskforce and delays in implementing decisions regarding fuel pricing.
The removal of the subsidy in May of the previous year led to record-high pump prices, crossing the Ksh200-mark later in the year due to a combination of subsidy removal and a VAT increase to 16 percent.
Kenya’s administration, faced with rising fuel costs, chose to reinstate the subsidy, prompting the IMF to raise alarms over the lack of budgeted funds and potential distortions in the country’s financial plans.
The ongoing disagreement highlights the challenges and consequences associated with balancing domestic economic policies and meeting international financial commitments
As the back-to-school rush season unfolds in Meru County, a growing number of parents are making a strategic choice to purchase second-hand books for their children.
This decision stems from the challenging economic conditions that have prompted families to seek ways to cut costs.
Among these parents is Ms. Prisca Gakii, who revealed that opting for second-hand books allows her to save money, which can then be allocated towards essential expenses like school fees.
She highlighted a practical advantage for Form-One students, emphasizing that using older books can protect them from potential theft, as new books often become targets for less scrupulous classmates.
Ms. Gakii pointed out a notable price difference, citing an example of a new Oxford dictionary priced at almost Sh1,900, compared to a used one available for Sh1400.
She justified her preference for the older but more affordable option, emphasizing that they contain the same content.
Janet Wamuyu, a second-hand books trader, shed light on the lucrative nature of their business during the opening of the first term, which coincides with the peak season.
As learners transition to new grades or classes, there is a heightened demand for various books, including dictionaries, Kamusi, and Golden Bells.
Wamuyu explained that this period, especially when Form-One students are joining school, facilitates easy acquisition of books for new stock.
The trading process involves exchanging books for the next grade or class at a lower rate, providing an economical alternative for parents instead of purchasing an entirely new set of books.
She further noted that their source of new stock comes from parents whose children have completed their studies and no longer require the books.
Despite the success during the peak season, Wamuyu acknowledged the challenges faced during other times of the year when only a few revision books are in demand, highlighting the cyclical nature of the business in Meru County.
Corporate Training Telemarketer at People FOCO
Care Team Senior Supervisor at Cigna
