By Agnes Orang’o
Among the greatest things a parent can give their kids is education, but what if they can no longer afford to educate their children to achieve their dreams?
Gerald Mathei from Katwii in Kangundo sub county, Machakos county is a sad man.
His daughter, Salome Nyaguthii, did her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in 2021 at Misyani Girls and passed with flying colors full of hopes to join university and pursue her dream career.
Things however took a sad turn as her father could not afford to send her to Chuka University where she had been called to pursue Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
The father now goes around major towns in the sub county wearing sack cloth with a banner hosting his daughter’s certificates seeking well-wishers who may offer financial assistance for his daughter.
Mathei told Education News that he has knocked on several politicians’ offices to seek help but his efforts have not borne any fruits.
“She was to join Chuka University on 5th May 2022 but deferred due to lack of funds, it pains me and that is why I took the initiative to walk in all towns seeking help for my daughter and I won’t rest until she is helped,” he said.
He added: “Even the lepers in the Bible knew that if they stayed at the same place they would die and chose to go out and take chances with their lives, I’m doing the same thing hoping someone out there who values education will come to my aid.”
Mathei narrated that things were not always as hard because his firstborn daughter sponsored Nyaguthii during high school and helped in sorting needs for other family members.
Hardship knocked when she lost her husband and had to go back home with her children and are now depending on Mathei.
“I’m catering for their needs, I don’t have anywhere to farm because the land I own is very small and brings no income and honestly I am stressed,” he noted.
He disclosed that Salome has since resorted to doing menial jobs to save up for University.
