Six students from Nuru Children's Home in Athi River, Machakos county, are seeking financial assistance to join Form 1 next week.
Home’s director Florence Mbithe told the Star that each student requires Sh20,000 to cover school fees, uniform and stationery.
Mbithe said she will take all of them to Athi River Secondary School, Mavoko Boys Secondary School and Kanaani Girls Secondary School. All these schools are located in Athi River.
Of the three, only Mavoko Boys is a boarding school.
The six are part of 82 orphans and vulnerable children from various backgrounds and parts of the country but have now become brothers and sisters at the children's home.
Hope for the six children set to join Form 1 next week is fading away fast as the home is struggling financially and is unable to fund their secondary education.
They say although the orphanage's management is doing all it can to provide them with food, shelter, healthcare, education among other needs, it is equally ‘orphaned’ and needs support. They urged well-wishers, corporates and donors to help pay their school fees.
Rose Mweende, 13, sat her KCPE exam at New Well Generation Academy in Athi River, Machakos county. She scored 264 marks and needs financial support to join Form 1 at Athi River Secondary School.
Alice Ndunge, 14, is also seeking financial assistance to join Athi River secondary. She sat her 2023 KCPE exam at Eagles Academy, Athi River, and scored 253 marks.
“As others join Form 1 next week, I see nothing but darkness and uncertainty. I call on well-wishers to come to our aid and help me join Form 1,” she said.
Ndunge said she cannot recall how she ended up at Nuru Children's Home but she is grateful for the support and care she has been receiving at the institution.
The children spoke to the Star at the home on Wednesday.
Other children seeking to join Form 1 are Frida Mumbi, 15, who scored 183 marks at Mavoko primary, Denis Kyalo who managed 205 marks at St Paul's primary in Athi River and Abel Rundi, 13, with 196 marks after sitting the exam at Mavoko Primary School.
Home director Mbithe said 106 orphans and vulnerable children were benefiting from the institution. Of the number, 82 are being sheltered at the institution.
“I'm a mother of 106 children, 82 of them are hosted here while the rest are beneficiaries of feeding programme that we provide to the neighbouring Bondeni slum where the home is located,” she said.
Mbithe said raising the children has been overwhelming due to hard economic times experienced by many not only in the country, but globally.
“It’s my sincere plea that people of goodwill come and assist us in taking these children to secondary school for them to be able to achieve their dreams,” Mbithe said.
She urged well-wishers to support them so they can give the children a better life.
Mbithe said children were committed to the home by National Police Service, Judiciary and the Children’s Department.
“Once they are committed here, it’s our responsibility to host them by providing shelter, food and education,” she said.
“Bringing the children from streets to corridors of universities and eventually integrating them back to the community as dependable and responsible citizens is my success story. It’s God’s doing.”
Mbithe said three of the children had just graduated from the university and secured jobs. She said one got a job at a local firm within the Export Processing Zone in Athi River. He is an industrial engineer.
Eight more are in university.
