Tana River boy who emerged among best pupils in KCPE yet to join Form One

Ayub Gonsoro Abawata, 16. He was the second best pupil at Odole Primary School In Tana River after scoring 320 marks in the 2016 KCPE exam. He has been unable to join Form One as his poor parents cannot raise the required fees. PHOTO | GALGALO BOCHA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Ayub Gonsoro Abawata was among the top pupils in Tana River in the 2016 KCPE exam.
  • His peasant parents, Mr Gonsoro Abawata and Mrs Salma Gobu, could not afford to take him to school.
  • Ayub has appealed to well-wishers to offer him a scholarship.
  • He says his parents cannot afford to pay for his secondary school education.

A bright boy from a needy family in Tana River County, who did well in the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam, has resorted to work as labourer, herding cattle in the village, after failing to proceed to secondary school due to lack of school fees.

Ayub Gonsoro Abawata, 16, who emerged second best pupil at Odole Primary School after getting 320 marks was selected to join Hirimani and Msabaha secondary schools.

However, his peasant parents, Mr Gonsoro Abawata and Mrs Salma Gobu, could not afford to take him to school thereby dashing his dream of becoming doctor.

“I am currently living with my elderly grandmother, Hagoru Godana, who has been up and down trying her best to get money from well-wishers to take me to school,” said Ayub in an interview with Nation.

He said his father has given up since his meagre earnings from casual jobs cannot buy them enough food and at the same time do his shopping for required school items.

"I am devastated because I have all along hoped to work hard and become doctor so that I help my parents came out of abject poverty," Ayub said.

CDF PLEDGE

He said recently, his grandmother managed to raise his plight with an official of Garsen CDF who said he can only get a Sh20,000 bursary if he manages to report to school.

Ayub said he was given a similar pledge by the Tana River County government education officials during recent prize giving ceremony at Odole Primary school.

Ironically, Governor Hussein Dado was among senior county officials present during the function to award best KCPE performers, among them Ayub.

The county government gave Sh50,000 while Garsen CDF gave Sh20,000 to the school management to reward rewards best performing 2016 KCPE candidates from Odole Primary School, which registered remarkable improvement in the exam.

“I received some cash for my good performance and was told to work hard. But where can I get money to take me to secondary school so that I can prove to them that I can perform well?” Ayub wondered.

Ayub has appealed to well-wishers to offer him a scholarship saying his parents cannot afford to pay for his secondary school education.

“My colleagues have all reported to their new secondary schools. I am the only one remaining at home because my parents are poor. I pray for any kind of help,” he added.