Mombasa Cement Announces Sponsorship of Needy Students

By Tobby Otum

Two pupils in Kilifi County gave a sigh of relief after a local cement firm came to their rescue to enable them pursue their “O” level education.

Both Fatuma Kwekwe and Samir Katama Mweri sat for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) national examination at the Havillah school under a difficult and challenging environment and were unable to pursue further education due to lack of school fees.

Fatuma, who was brought up by her grandmother Dama Tsuma, scored 400 marks and was selected to join Butere girls high school while 16 year old Mweri scored 364 marks and was selected to join Kisumu boys high school.

The two pupils broke down in tears of joy after Mombasa Cement offered them a four year scholarship which will enable them complete their “O” level education.

Kwekwe’s story was highlighted on social media which prompted the cement chief executive officer [CEO] Hasmukh Patel alias Hasu to move swiftly.

Mweri was lucky by chance when two officials of the cement company paid a visit to Kwekwe former school teacher Erick Kai who pleaded with the cement company officials to support him with school fees.

He hurriedly called Mweri who was not far away from the school to come for his surprise message.

Kai said the former pupils schooled at the school free of charge after their fees was waived.

He narrated how he was able to save Kwekwe after her parents were forced to abort two attempts at getting her married off.

 “Kwekwe who hails from Kwale county sought her grandmother’s help and were given police protection,” he pointed out.

The school headmaster told journalists Kwekwe has foiled her forced marriage twice in order to continue with her education and described her as a disciplined and focused girl who has a bright future.

Kai pointed out Kwekwe’s parents abandoned her after she turned down their request for her early marriage.

He further pointed out the move prompted the school to offer her free learning up to standard eight.

“Kwekwe’s dream is to become a medical practitioner upon completion of her education,” he added.

The head teacher told journalists Mweri started schooling from nursery to Standard Eight.

Kai said Mweri’s parents abandoned him after they were unable to pay for his school fees and the school took up the responsibility.

He said Mweri is hard working despite being brought up by his grandmother after his mother got married somewhere else.

Mweri had been stranded before the school took the responsibility to educate him free of charge.

He asked well wishers to assist pupils who are willing to continue with their education but are unable to do so due to challenges surrounding their families.

“Otherwise you will have ruined the children’s education and future careers,” he cautioned.

Kwekwe’s grandmother said she was perturbed when she discovered her granddaughter had not started her education.

Dama told journalists she was forced to take her and move away with her from Kwale to Kilifi county to start her education

She pointed out Kwekwe has foiled two attempts of marriage which they both refused.

“We were forced to report the matter to police to warn her parents from engaging her in an early marriage,” she pointed out.

Kwekwe’s grandmother is against the practice of early child girl marriage which is traditional with the Mijikenda community in the coast region.

Dama said she is disturbed to see early marriage is the order of the day for the girl child in the coastal region.

She pointed out the community values the boy child education more compared to girl child education.

“The community believes educating girl children is a waste of resources as they will eventually be married off,” she pointed out.

Kwekwe narrated how she was faced with difficulties to reach where she has reached in education.

She said the hurdlers she faced prompted her to take education seriously and to read hard.

“I have a goal to achieve due to the hurdles I faced and I had to be brought up and educated by my grandmother,” she pointed out.

Kwekwe said she had already despaired in life after she performed well in her KCPE but she has hope of a future now after the cement firm came to her aid.

She lauded the firm for valuing her education against all the odds which will enable her to achieve her dream.

“I had feared my dreams were shattered due to lack of school fees but hope has returned after the cement firm gave me a four year education scholarship,” she said.

The former the Havilllah school pupil insisted she wants to become a physician to give back to the society and become a role model to the community.

Kwekwe told journalists she wants to prove a point that the girl child is also an asset to the society and not only the boy child.

She said she resolved to take education seriously instead of succumbing to an early marriage to assist her parents who are suffering due to lack of education and to prove a point to them.

“I am the second born in our family of eight with the first born being a boy who is also facing challenges to access education,” she added.

Mweri said he was brought up by his grandparents who took him to the school under difficult circumstances but he is happy that he has his primary level education.

He pointed out when he was selected to join his “O” level at Kisumu boys high school his grandmother was unable to pay his school fees.

“I wish to thank the cement firm for coming to my aid to pursue my “O” level education courtesy of the company scholarship,” he pointed out.

He said he wants to become a mechanical engineer when he finishes school.

Mweri said his scholarship came as a surprise since he was hanging around his former primary school administration block when officials of the cement firm came to pay Kwelkwe’s school fees.

He pointed out the primary school headmaster came to his rescue after he floated his issue to the cement firm.

“I am the first born in the family,” he disclosed.

On their part, Mombasa Cement Public Relations officer Samir Bhalloo who was flanked by Personal assistant to Mombasa Cement chief executive officer [CEO] Hasmukh Patel alias Hasu told the media they read the human interest ordeal in one of the local dailies about Kwekwe which forced the company to come to her rescue.

He pointed out the company was moved by Kwekwe’s story which prompted them to come to her aid.

“We are here to get more details before she starts her next move to pursue her “O” level education,” he pointed out.

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