By John Ochieng
Starone Otindo, a class six boy at Kodero Bara Primary School came up with the idea of making a mini chopper after a politician landed in a helicopter in their Riosir village.
The orphaned boy wowed the community by making a replica of drones using waste materials.
“I use plastics thrown at Riosir market. I also use old radio and torch parts to get a motor which rotates the blades .Old mobile phone batteries are used to power the small plane up,” Otindo said.
He added that he has so far made four drones. A video of a small black helicopter trying to take off from a table in his school taken by one of the teachers created a sensation on social media.
He believes that with a strong motor to rotate the blades and a battery that lasts longer, the drones might pick flight.
He said he has dreams of joining Kanga High School and later becoming a mechanical engineer as he enjoys science, wiring and fixing electronic gadgets at home.
‘My biggest wish is to one day fly in a helicopter and set foot in a real airport. ‘He said.
Starone lives with his guardians Jared and Florence Omboga. After he wakes up in the morning, he prepares tea and porridge for his five siblings as his guardians head to their farm to work or to get hired as farmhands.
From there, he goes to school but heads back home for lunch. He then draws water from the well for their seven cattle then takes them out for pasture and ties them on pegs.
“After school, I head back home and ensure the cows are taken back home, do any chores available, finish on my school homework and have time to make the toy choppers and drones,” Starone said.
His guardian Florence Omboga said that Starone has been changing bulbs, repairing electronic devices in the house and fixing toys for his siblings and neighbours.
‘We hope that he gets support to continue his education. We also hope that through his interest in electronics, he will make a career for himself as an engineer,’ she said.
A neighbor, who repairs radios and TVs at his shop, said he first tried chasing away the boy to join others for games when Starone spent most of his time at the store.
James Omingo, the deputy head teacher at Kodero Bara Primary School, said they have kept Starone’s helicopters in the office and that they believe that when accorded the right support, Starone can make a drone.
He said gifted and talented children are characterized by high performance abilities in many fields.
Kennedy Odero Orieko, a teacher at Kodero Bara Primary School, said that Starone’s talent is a positive move despite his humble background.
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