Siaya Teacher Buys Shaving Machine with Salary, Shaves Pupils for Free: "They Remind Me of Myself"

 

Siaya teacher Kennedy Otieno shaving a pupil (l). Otieno posing for a photo with a school bus in the background (r).

A primary school teacher has touched the hearts of many, especially children, with his precious, kind gesture.   Otieno was moved by the state of struggling pupils in a Siaya village. The father of one, who teaches at St. Paul's Ndenga Primary School, North West Ugenya, Siaya county, noted the heartbreaking state of the children. Which subjects does Otieno teach?  Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the mathematics and physics teacher said most kids face diverse challenges.  "Some live with their grandmothers who can barely afford a meal daily. Paying school fees is also a challenge; some fail to attend school because of finances. Others show up in torn school uniforms and shaggy hair. 

"My heart has been very heavy since I was poached to this school last year, and I wanted to make a difference. Looking at these kids reminds me of my younger self and how I struggled, primarily being raised by my grandmother," he noted. How much is Otieno's shaving machine? Otieno began saving money from his salary for a shaving machine. He noted that his salary is insufficient and that, during difficult times, he sometimes has to return to his savings.  "I used to save KSh 500, but sometimes I found myself needing that and more money, so I went back to scratch after using the savings money. I borrowed from teachers and even the sacco sometimes. I bought my shaving machine for KSh 55,000," he shared. Why does Otieno shave pupils for free? 

The teacher noted that he shaves five to 15 pupils per day, depending on the machine and the texture of the pupils' hair. He shaves them in the evening when the kids have gone for games so that he does not interfere with the school's programme. "I shave them for free because most kids can barely raise money to shave their hair. I work with another pupil who is good with his hands. Since I started this a couple of weeks ago, many kids have purposed to attend school because they feel valued and loved. 

They may not have much, but such a small gesture goes a long way to encourage them to attend school," he added. Woman born in Korogocho starts library In another story, Sarah Achieng Bibo, who was raised in the Korogocho slums, watched her mother struggle to pay her bills. She earned a scholarship and returned to her community, determined to change the narrative. Despite having limited resources, she started a community library that offers books to kids from needy homes. 

by  John Green