By Cally Imbayi
A first-term Member of Parliament (MP) has sacrificed his first salary to pay university fees for a needy student from his constituency.
Duncan Lukangu a student from Shitoto village in Mumias East constituency was the beneficiary who was stranded at home doing menial jobs weeks after universities opened for first year students.
Lukangu who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary examinations (KCSE) last year at Ebumini Secondary school and scored a mean grade of B- (minus) was afraid that he would lose his chance to study Engineering course at Egerton University due to lack of school fees.
“My father died when I was one year old and our mother has been struggling with us throughout. When I passed my KCSE, she didn’t know where to get funds to take me to the university. But I’m very grateful to Hon. Peter Salasya for his timely reaction to save the situation. May God bless him very much,” Lukangu said.
Mumias East legislator Peter Salasya said that with the current economic situation, poverty had risen to a very high level causing many bright students from needy families to defer their education.
Despite the shortcoming, Salasya said that he was committed to helping the bright but needy students in his constituency to go through with their education.
“I went through a difficult time with my education and I would not want to see young people go through the same. With my first salary, I want to sacrifice and help this boy. I have paid what I had and I promise that I will help him and others throughout their education by all means,” the legislator pledged.
The MP said that the recently nullified NG-CDF should be retained for MPs to meet needs such as school fees for needy students.
“All the problems in our constituencies are addressed to MPs and banning that kitty would be detrimental to our people We are asking the government to reconsider CDF for MPs despite the court ruling it out. The laws are made for people and they can also be amended for the benefit of the same people,” the MP said.
