A first-year student at Kenyatta University, Sarah Ouma, was recently discovered in a distressing situation after going nearly a week without food due to financial hardship.
The 19-year-old student, who is studying for a Bachelor of Education in Special Needs Education, was found crying on campus, overwhelmed by hunger and the pressure of not being able to pay her school fees.
Ouma, who comes from a humble background in Mradi, Ruaraka, revealed that her family has been struggling to support her education, along with her three siblings.
Her father, who works odd jobs to make ends meet, advised her to defer her studies since the family couldn’t afford her tuition fees. This heartbreaking suggestion left Ouma in emotional turmoil.
In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Ouma shared her struggles.
“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 recalled, expressing gratitude to the school alumnus who offered her a temporary reprieve from her dire situation.
Despite excelling in high school, where she attended Butere Girls High School on a basketball scholarship, Ouma now faces the harsh reality of university life without financial support.
The scholarship that helped her in high school did not extend to her university education, and her family cannot afford the KSh 97,920 required annually for her studies.
Further compounding her situation, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) placed her in Band 5, meaning she has yet to receive any financial aid. Ouma explained that she applied for a review of her case but is still waiting for a response.
“I’m pleading for anyone who can help with my school fees up to my fourth year,” she appealed, hoping to continue her education and help lift her family out of poverty. Ouma’s phone number is 0702490188 for anyone willing to support her cause.
