When people come together, great things happen. Few phrases better capture the quiet, determined efforts unfolding across parts of Homa Bay County, where members of three clans have embraced collective action as one of the most practical solutions to the perennial challenge of school fees.
Rather than waiting for government intervention or political patronage, often uneven and selective, these communities have chosen to pool their own resources to keep children in school.
Through modest contributions from families, funds are raised and channelled towards paying fees for vulnerable learners on the brink of dropping out, restoring hope where uncertainty once loomed.
In Rachuonyo East, members of the Kaonje clan in Kodhoch West Location exemplify the belief that unity is strength. Drawing on their numbers and shared resolve, the clan raised Sh800,000 this year, which was distributed among 80 secondary school learners. Each beneficiary received Sh10,000 towards their fees.
Kaonje community chairperson Henry Malala said the initiative began in 2019, at a time when many parents were struggling to keep their children in school. Some resorted to seeking help from neighbours, though individual contributions were often insufficient. It was from this reality that a collective idea was born.
“Money given by one person was sometimes not enough. We realised that if more people contributed, we could make a meaningful difference for children in need,” Mr Malala said
“We do not want a situation where some children stay at home while others go to school. That has severe consequences for the future of this community,” he said.
Six years on, the programme recorded its highest collection this year. Mr Malala noted that beneficiaries in day schools are encouraged to seek additional support, including the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), to clear their fees for the full year.
Mr Ezekiel Ondiek, chairperson of the community’s education committee, said beneficiaries are expected to give back in the future. Some are already university students who, upon graduation, will be well placed to support others. He added that the community hopes to raise at least Sh1 million next year, with collections typically conducted over six months before the new academic year.
Kowili Education Recovery Chairperson Kennedy Ogindo hands over cheques to students at St Paul's Ligisa Secondary School in Kochia Ward in Homa Bay County on January 18, 2026. The Kowili clan collects funds every year to help vulnerable students pay their fees.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation
A similar spirit animates the Kowili clan in Rangwe, where more than 500 Grade 10 learners had their fees paid this year after community members raised Sh3 million. Operating under the banner of Kowili Education Recovery, residents contribute funds from family networks to support education.
Chairman Kennedy Ogindo and Secretary Edward Odhiambo said the initiative was born out of widespread complaints from parents whose children were unable to transition to Grade 10 due to a lack of fees. Beyond schooling, Mr Ogindo said the project aims to break cycles of poverty by nurturing productive citizens of the future.
Mr Odhiambo expressed optimism that the initiative would transform livelihoods in the area, adding that efforts are underway to ensure its sustainability by widening participation.
In neighbouring Rachuonyo North, at least 1,200 needy students received bursaries totalling Sh 5.3 million after professionals from Kibiri Ward mobilised resources through a group known as Auma Nyar Agoro. The initiative supports learners joining Grade 10 as well as universities.
Group patron Solomon Obiero, who is also the Finance executive committee member in Homa Bay, said the programme was established to ensure children from financially challenged families are not denied education. “The only equaliser between children of the rich and the poor is education,” he said, pledging that no child in Kibiri Ward would miss schooling due to lack of fees.
Auma Nyar Agoro chairman Zachary Opapa, urged parents, leaders and stakeholders to support the initiative, describing education as the foundation for transforming villages and futures alike.
Beyond organised groups, individuals are also stepping forward. Businessman Mohamed Abdul Ramadhan, a resident of Karachuonyo, issued cheques worth Sh 1.23 million to support 322 needy learners across seven wards.
He said his intervention was prompted by the reality that NG-CDF and other funds are insufficient to reach all deserving students.
“Despite the availability of multiple sources of support, there are learners who are left out,” Mr Ramadhan said, urging parents to take their children to school in line with presidential directives.
He also called on Members of the National Assembly to push for free education at all levels, noting the heavy financial burden borne by many Kenyan families.
Together, these initiatives stand as powerful, transformative forces. They show how shared purpose and collaboration can achieve far more than isolated efforts, weaving hope into the fabric of community life and ensuring that education remains a bridge, not a barrier, to a better future.
