Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga was moved to tears as she listened to a disabled parent narrating how she was begging in markets to get school fees.
Governor Wanga was seen wiping tears as the widow and disabled mama Julita Adhiambo narrated how she used to move from one market to another to solicit funds to get school fees for her children.
Adhiambo whose child is now under the Fins to Swim Scholarship education programme said she had an old and ragged proforma and cup which she used to ask for donations in markets.
Hailing from Kagan ward in Rangwe constituency, the widow said she began begging for funds at Onyinjo market before she moved to Homa Bay town.
Adhiambo narrated that her begging became monotonous and bothersome as some people in the Onyinjo market could drop her Sh10 or Sh20 coin with the knowledge that she would return the following day.
“I went to market streets to look for fees for my children. I moved to Homa Bay town after realizing that people in Onyinjo market were used to my begging and were no longer considerate,” Adhiambo said.
Speaking when parents and scholars went to pick the cheques for the programme at Governor’s Park in Homa Bay town, Adhiambo asked her child David Ochieng’ to work hard and not to disappoint them.
Ochieng’ is among the more than 480 students who were picked for the scholarship after meeting all the requirements.
After getting into the office in 2023, Wanga started a scholarship programme dubbed Fins to Swim to support the education of bright but needy students in Homa Bay County.
A cluster committee was formed in all 40 wards across the county to identify the beneficiaries.
One must attain 350 marks and above and must be genuinely needy in order to benefit from the scholarship.
Adhiambo said the help came after she had lost hope and advised Ochieng to look for some sustenance work to do because she was unable to take him to secondary school due to lack of fees.
Ochieng was called to St Mary’s Yala High School in Gem constituency, Siaya County. They thanked the county government for coming up with the initiative.
“I plead with you, my son Ochieng’ not to disappoint me. I also pray for girls and boys who are beneficiaries to work hard and transform the society,” she said.
During her speech, the vividly emotional governor said her administration introduced the Fins to Swim scholarship programme to help children whose families are poverty-stricken to get an education.
She said they started the programme after their assessment revealed that poverty was a great impediment to many bright but poor children from achieving their academic dreams.
Besides the scholarship, the Homa Bay government has also distributed sh 215 million as a bursary to support the education of about 32,000 students across the county.
Wanga said she also underwent a lot of difficulties during her schooling after all her parents died. She said someone paid her school fees.
“I empathize with Adhiambo and many parents here because I also experienced the difficulties during my school days. We introduced the programme to create an impact on the future lives of the children,” Wanga said.
The governor urged the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and stick with the promise of being dutiful and responsible students.
The county executive members Martin Opere (Education), Mercy Osewe (Governance) and Homa Bay Assembly Majority Leader Richard Ogindo were present.
She said they are going to hold to the high standards as each student was told to strive and get a minimum grade of B (plain).
The students were told to focus on their studies and ensure they support other generations in future.
“You have all the time to study because you’ll not be sent out of school. I want you to be considerate, compassionate, kind and respect your parents to succeed,” the governor said.