Virginia Aoko, 13, is set to be feted by the state for her heroic act of saving her heavily pregnant mother from birth-related complications.
In an interview with the Star on the sidelines of the Mashujaa celebrations in Wang'uru stadium in Kirinyaga, the girl from Busia county narrated how she took the daring act of ferrying her heavily expectant mother to a hospital across Lake Victoria in the wee hours of the night.
The class 8 pupil said she could not watch her mother die for lack of help.
"My mother's delivery date was due and being all alone with her I didn't know how to treat her. I took courage and prepared her...then carefully helped her into the boat where I manoeuvred through the rough waves across the lake," she said.
"That was the first time I paddled a boat and I'm glad it was a successful ride."
Aoko says luckily she made it to the hospital in time and her mother was able to deliver safely through her act of courage.
Aoko says the best gift she awarded her mother and the now four-month-old baby brother was the courageous act of saving their lives.
"My mother is healthy and seeing my brother every day lights up my heart. Not many children of my age would have taken the daring act," she says.
Aoko says she is happy to have been selected as the youngest hero in this year's Mashujaa and looks forward to meeting President Uhuru Kenyatta on a personal level.
"I feel honoured and appreciated by my country and hope the country will build more facilities closer to people so that they don't have to travel long distances in pursuit of health care," she added.
She also hopes to do exemplary well in her national examinations.
National Heroes Council Dr David Mbuthia hailed the girl for epitomizing braveness through her act.
She said as a council they are proud of her.
"Many children of her age would perhaps panic when confronted with such a situation, but for her, she remained calm and brought the situation under control," Mbuthia said.
Edited by D Tarus
