I can but Cannot Afford

15 year old Muendi Mathuku emerged the best student in her district in the recent released primary examinations results. Her family is poor. But the fact that the nation is facing starvation has made her situation worse. She wrote her examinations on an empty stomach but still emerged the best. Her name appeared in the newspapers as one of the best students in the country and the overall best for her district. But I wonder whether her father was able to afford that newspaper.

On the day she received her admission to Kangaru girls school, a national school where only the best get admitted she rushed excietedly to her father. \" Father, father she cried. This is my admission letter to the prestigious Kangaru high school\". The letter was from the headteacher of her school congratulating her for her admission and asking her to pay the fee for the first term before admission.

Her father looked at the letter, and the pain he felt went straight to his heart. The rains had failed. He had no money. He had six children to feed. Where on earth is he expected to get Kshs 25,000 to ensure that her daughter gets to the school that she is qualified to attend.

Muendi read the look on her fathers face and she did not need to ask. There was no way she could attend Kangaru high school. She went into their hut and cried. Anyway what should she expect. At times they go for days without proper meals how on earth was her father expected to pay the fees?

A month passed and schools opened. She was still at home. But deep in her heart she knew she was the best. Why should she stay at home? She woke up and started looking for a job. Their neighbour Mzee Muli was looking for a herds person. She requested and was given the job. She is currently herding cattle and earning a meagre Kshs 1,000 per month with the hope that her savings will accumulate one day to pay her fees.