• Simiyu was to report on May 3 but he lacked school fees.
• He aspires to become a doctor.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
A Baringo orphan who scored 391 marks in the KCPE exam used to wake up at 5.30, turn on his torch and walk to school through a forest inhabited by hyenas and leopards.
Sometimes Eugene Simiyu had to cross flooded rivers.
He never missed a day.
But he has no money for fees and is appealing for funds to join St Joseph's Kitale, a national school in Trans Nzoia county.
Eugene, 14, excelled in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam at the remote Legut Day and Boarding primary school in Tenges ward, Baringo Central.
He was to report a week ago on May 3.
“I couldn’t manage to join Form 1 due to lack of funds, so I am appealing to the government or any well-wisher to assist me go to school,” Simiyu told the Star on Tuesday.
He attributed his good performance to endurance and hard work and said he wants to become a doctor.
Simiyu said he use to wake up every morning at 5.30 and trek seven kilometres to reach school at around 6.30am.
“I walk daily through the thick bushes inhabited by many dangerous wild animals like hyenas and leopards, sometimes I get to school late owing to rains and flooded rivers,” he said in an interview.
The boy, who lost both parents, currently lives with his disadvantaged uncle George Zachary, the bother to his mother, in a rickety structure in the sleepy Lelgut village.
“Since my sister passed on, I offered to accommodate Eugene and his elder brother. I also have a family with children and I just do menial jobs to feed and clothe them,” Zachary said.
He said he used to encourage Eugene to work hard and excels in KCPE exam.
"Even if I may not have the capacity to meet your school fees, God will see you through,” he said.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Zachary said he is left with two chickens in his empty compound after selling everything to meet the needs of his four children in secondary schools.
“Now the boy requires about Sh100,000 as fees plus shopping items that I cannot afford,” he said. They have appealed to donors in vain," he said.
Headteacher Dominic Mburu described the boy as smart, disciplined, devoted and hardworking, truly deserving of assistance. He said the boy hasn't missed a single day of school.
“Personally, I had earlier seen his determination and encouraged him to get good marks so he can join St Joseph’s Kitale where my own son currently schools. He actually surprised me," Mburu said.
The school boss further said he had to squeeze the boy into the boarding facility to avoid late arrival and interruption during exams.
He termed the boy's results "miraculous", saying he had excused the boy from attending both evening and early morning preps due to the long distance from home and other problems.
Eugene's neighbour, Daniel Kenei, said the community will really feel happy if the bright child gets a sponsor to go to school.
“As you can see, from this remote environment,we haven’t had a single child going to a national school," he said.
"Eugene could go down in history."
(Edited by V. Graham)