John Mwangi, a 16-year-old boy from Mukuru kwa Njenga in Nairobi, is living a painful contradiction: he has earned admission to one of Kenya’s most prestigious schools, Alliance Boys High School, yet he remains at home more than a week after the start of Grade 10 due to lack of school fees.
John excelled in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), scoring an impressive 64 out of 72 points.
His outstanding performance secured him a coveted slot at Alliance, a moment that initially filled his family with joy and pride.
However, that excitement quickly turned into distress when the reality of school fees and requirements set in.
Instead of reporting to school, John now spends his days working at a dumpsite, collecting plastic bottles to sell in a desperate bid to raise money.
The work is gruelling and dangerous, but he says he has no alternative. “Sometimes you get cuts from broken glass, and sometimes you collect enough bottles but no one buys them,” he explained, describing the daily risks and uncertainty he faces.
John revealed that his annual school fees amount to KSh 54,000, excluding uniforms and other essentials. Since he began working at the dumpsite, he has managed to save only KSh 1,250, a sum that feels painfully inadequate compared to what is required for him to start school.
Recalling the moment he learned of his placement, John said his father returned home beaming with pride.
“He told me I had been called to join Alliance Boys High School, and I could not even believe it,” he said. But the joy soon faded as the family realised they could not afford the costs.
His father, Nicholas Mwalili, said he has exhausted all options in trying to help his son continue his education.
He revealed that he even attempted to transfer John to a more affordable school, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
As John continues to wait at home, his story has drawn attention to the harsh realities faced by bright students from low-income backgrounds, raising renewed calls for support systems to ensure that academic excellence is not derailed by poverty.
By Nairobihub