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| Sarah Ouma, a KU student seeking financial help towards her education (l). The main entrance of Kenyatta University (l). |
A first-year student at Kenyatta University has opened up about her distressing situation due to financial struggles. Sarah Ouma, 19, was found in tears by a school alumnus, overwhelmed by stress from hunger and the inability to pay her school fees. In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, Ouma shared that her father suggested she defer her studies because they couldn’t afford her tuition. “She found me crying and wanted to know what I was going through. I broke down because I hadn’t eaten for two days. Thankfully, she took me out for lunch,” Ouma recounted. “The deadline for school fees is fast approaching, and my parents are struggling. When I told my father about the fees, he advised me to wait until next year, which hurt even more.” Ouma attended Butere Girls High School on a scholarship due to her basketball talent. Karibu Africa Kenya, a non-government organisation, runs the project. She explains that the scholarship programme was intended solely to cover her high school education. Why is Sarah Ouma seeking help? Coming from a humble background in the Mradi area of Embakasi East, she is determined to continue her education, especially as her parents also support her three siblings. Her situation worsened when the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) placed her in Band 5, and she has yet to receive her allocation. This means she faces an annual fee of KSh 97,920, translating to KSh 48,960 per semester for her Bachelor of Education in Special Needs Education. “My father hustles just to make ends meet. KSh 48,000 is too much for him. I applied for a review with HELB, but they haven’t responded. I’m pleading for anyone who can help with my school fees up to my fourth year. We have no means to raise this amount, and I desperately want to study to uplift my family,” Ouma appealed. Sarah Ouma’s phone number is 0702490188.