Samburu Girl Reports to Form One with Just a Bag and Pencil

A tired and dusty Akuwan Arupe, a fifteen-year-old girl, arrived at AIC Moi Girls School in Maralal, Samburu County on Monday.

She caught everyone's attention due to her lack of a brand-new school uniform. Instead, she proudly donned her worn-out DEB Maralal Primary School uniform along with tired-looking slippers, symbolizing the challenges she had faced on her journey and her unwavering thirst for knowledge. Accompanied by her guardian, Arupe joined the queue of fresh faces, with her only belongings being her admission letter and the result slip from her 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

Despite not fulfilling all the necessary criteria for enrollment and lacking items such as a metal box, books, tuition fees, and personal possessions, Arupe arrived for admission. Clutching a borrowed bag and pen tightly, she stepped forward to be cleared. The teachers were taken aback when they realized she had nothing to register. This prompted Arupe to share her circumstances. She had achieved a score of 329 out of 500 in the 2023 KCPE examinations and had journeyed 173 kilometres with her guardian from the dangerous Suguta Valley in Samburu North to Maralal.

Arupe faced insecurity in her hometown, where the possibility of being forced into marriage loomed if she didn't attend school. Her aunt, Mary Ebenyo, who also served as her guardian, highlighted Arupe's strong desire for education despite the obstacles she faced. Ms. Ebenyo acknowledged Arupe's significant role in altering beliefs and perceptions within Suguta. She shared that some family members suggested that Arupe should find work as a domestic helper in a more prosperous Samburu family, as continuing her studies seemed impossible.

Thankfully, Alice Gituro, the head of AIC Moi Girls School, has intervened and offered a helping hand. She has waived the required fees and provided Arupe with a school uniform, mattress, and other necessary items. Arupe had hoped that someone with a kind heart would come forward to provide further assistance. Ms. Ebenyo believes that Arupe's determination and academic success in the face of hardships make her a symbol of hope for the impoverished Suguta Valley. This region is plagued by issues like hunger, poverty, illness, malnutrition, and frequent conflicts.