By Norah Musega
museganorah@gmail.com
Man aged 24 scored 415 marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results released March 28 after failing to join secondary school three times even after excelling in the past KCPE examinations since 2012.
Paul Wasonga, who sat the 2021 KCPE examinations at Onyalo Primary School in Migori County now seeks help to secondary school and later pursue his dream in medical career.
The man who is a total orphan lives in a rented house paid by teachers from the primary school where he sat his exams. He has called on well-wishers to support and sponsor his secondary education as he insists he has not lost hope in pursuing his dreams.
For a decade, he has lived and fought to keep his dream alive even as his attempt to join secondary school hit a snag for failure of getting scholarship after he lost both his parents in a span of two years and became a total orphan at the age of two.
Wasonga first KCPE for the first time at Kangeso Primary School where he scored 306 marks out of possible 500 marks while living with his aunt who was unable to facilitate his secondary education at the time.
“The journey has been quite long as I have had to fend for myself through manual jobs keeping the hope of becoming a medical doctor one day,” he told Education News.
After three years out of school, he later joined Rodi Primary School in Homabay County in 2015 with the hope of good grades that would enable him join Starehe Boys Centre but was unlucky as he did not have anyone to see him through secondary education after he score 378 marks in his KCPE’s second attempt.
He again resolved to go back to manual jobs, but this time, working with a group of youths in making and selling bricks.
The third attempt made Wesonga score 388 marks in KCPE in 2018 as his dream of becoming a doctor was still alive
“I have always remained inspired by the need to further my education despite having to make bricks to earn a living,” he said.
With the hope still on fire, Wesonga enrolled at Onyalo where he took his KCPE exams and garnered marks qualifying him an entry to a national school.
His teacher at Onyalo primary school have since described him as a disciplined learner who has remained focused in his studies notwithstanding his age.
Dedan Odhiambo the school head noted that the teachers have been contributing Ksh. 100 monthly towards his house rent knowing that he is a total orphan who has nowhere to turn to. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors as he strives to achieve his dreams in life, I wish to call on well-wishers not to forget him this time.
Wasonga has however expressed fears of lack of school fees again which might deter him from joining Starehe boys centre in Nairobi to chase after his career dream after sitting for the national exams for the fourth time.
