A widowed mother from Githurai faced a painful setback this week when her son, a top performing candidate, was turned away from Jamhuri Boys Secondary School for lack of admission fees.
Rehema Brenda arrived at the school with her son Ian Godfrey carrying only a bag and a blanket, but the administration demanded KSh 55,000 before enrollment could proceed.
The incident unfolded at the start of the new school term, a moment that should have marked the beginning of a promising academic journey for Ian.
Instead, the family was stranded outside the school gates, unable to meet the financial requirement.
Brenda, who has raised four children alone since losing her husband, had already sought bursary support but her requests were unsuccessful.
Ian had earned strong marks in his primary school examinations, securing a place at one of Nairobi’s respected boys’ schools.
His achievement represented hope for a brighter future, not only for himself but for his struggling family.
The rejection at admission highlighted the divide between academic success and financial ability, a reality faced by many families in low income areas.
Before this moment, the family had celebrated Ian’s placement with optimism.
Afterward, the mood shifted to despair as the mother appealed to Kenyans of goodwill to help secure her son’s education.
The turning point came when the school insisted on the full admission fee, leaving the boy’s future hanging in uncertainty.
The losers in this story were Brenda and her son, whose hard work and determination were overshadowed by financial barriers.
The potential winners could be Ian and his family, if support from well wishers arrives in time to change the course of his education.
The situation captured the wider struggle of many Kenyan households where bright children risk missing opportunities due to high costs of schooling.
This case stood out because of the stark image of a mother and son arriving with only basic belongings, determined to begin a new chapter, only to be sent away.
It raised questions about access to education, the role of bursaries, and the fate of talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
By Newshub