When the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) released KCPE results last year, Millicent Njeri knew she was cut out for success in future despite her humble background.
Her eight years of hardwork in primary school had finally paid off as she scored an impressive 400 marks.
The 14-year old girl from Thika who is in the care of her grandmother saw an opening to better her life and that of her guardian who has struggled to see her through.
But her dream in a way, begun to fizzle out as she got her admission letter to join Kenya’s prestigious Pangani Girls’ High School in Nairobi. The school fee was a tall order for her family.
She went from one neighborhood to another trying to seek help in raising her school fees but it was to no avail.
However, Kiambu County Women Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba came to her aid right at the point of her need.
Through the Mama Care programme established under her office, Wamuchomba sent off the young Njeri to her dream school.
“In one of my field visits as Mama County to Thika Town, I met a young Milicent Njeri in the company of her elderly grandmother; they had been traversing the neighborhood to raise funds for her to join Pangani girls having been offered a slot thanks to her exemplary performance in KCPE,” said the Women rep.
Wamuchomba remarked that she was moved by the determination Njeri and her grandmother had that she would still join the school despite the fact they did not have the money.
Through Mama Care programme, she secured her admission and paid part of school fees to secure her entry to the school.
“She had the courage and determination that nothing could stop her. Through Mama Care, we paid her admission [fees] and secured her slot in the school.”
Njeri is now under Mama Care’s bursary programme which will foot her school fees for the next four years.
On Thursday, the MP visited Njeri at school to check on her academic progress and clear her school fee balance.
She said Njeri is among scores of other needy students and needy people in the society who are beneficiaries of the affirmative action bursary funds.
Milkah Kamau, one of the beneficiaries of the Mama Care programme hailed the initiative by the Women rep saying it has made life easier.
“It’s a good initiative because its hallmark is uplifting the poor in society. We are grateful and as Kiambu residents, we thank her for the effort to make our lives and those of our children better,” she quipped.