Suheil Mkalla Mumba, a student who excelled in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams with an impressive A- grade, is facing a daunting challenge as he seeks to realize his dream of becoming a doctor.
Suheil, from Kombani in Kwale County, is appealing for financial assistance to cover the KSh 490,940 annual fee required for his first year at Egerton University.
Originally, Suheil had hoped to attend Dr. Aggrey Boys High School in Wundanyi after scoring 389 in KCPE.
However, due to his parents’ financial constraints, he enrolled at Kwale High School in 2020.
“I always wanted to go to Dr. Aggrey, but due to my parents’ financial status, they could not afford it,” Suheil explained.
Though he was fortunate to receive county sponsorship at Kwale High, the support was often inadequate, straining his family’s limited resources.
Suheil’s mother, Tatu Mohamed, has made a heartfelt plea for support.
“We don’t have the capacity to help our son,” she said, urging sponsors to assist in raising the funds needed for Suheil’s medical studies. Tatu recalled how Suheil has long aspired to become a doctor, recounting his childhood dreams of treating people and his specific ambition to be a neurosurgeon.
Adding to their challenges, Suheil’s application for a Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) scholarship has faced delays in disbursement, further complicating their financial situation.
Recent changes in the university funding model and the defunding of HELB have exacerbated the difficulties faced by students from lower-income backgrounds, making it harder for them to pursue higher education.
