Sarah Ouma, a first-year student at Kenyatta University, is facing severe financial difficulties that have left her in distress. Ouma was recently discovered crying because she was hungry. She not pay her school fees and shared her plight in an interview.
She has been incapable of affording the annual tuition fee of KSh 97,920, which her modest family can’t support. She received a scholarship for her high school education because of her basketball skills. Yet, the university costs have become too much. The financial burden is overwhelming.
Ouma’s situation has worsened as the deadline for tuition payment approaches. Her father suggested she defer her studies, which has added to her emotional turmoil. She recounted a moment of vulnerability when an alumnus found her in tears after going without food for two days. This meeting led to a brief respite. The alumnus took her out for lunch. This highlighted the dire circumstances she faces daily.
Coming from a humble background in Embakasi East, Ouma is determined to continue her education despite the challenges. She is also responsible for her three siblings, which adds to her family’s financial strain.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has placed her in Band 5. She has not yet received any financial allocation. This leaves her in a precarious position about her studies in Special Needs Education.
Ouma expressed her desperation for assistance in her appeal for help. She needs support to cover her tuition fees through to her fourth year. She emphasized her father’s struggle to supply for the family and her wish to uplift them through education.
Ouma’s story highlights the financial barriers students in Kenya face. It particularly affects those from low-income families. Her story underscores the urgent need for support in the education sector.
