When Scholastica Waruona, 14, walked into Materi Girls' Centre on Monday this week, she was only armed with hope and a desire to fulfil her dreams.
Having scored 54 points in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), she had no means to join Chogoria Girls' Senior School where she was placed.
Waruona has been her family’s sole breadwinner, doing odd jobs in her village for a wage of Sh350 to support her mentally challenged mother and young brother. In the circumstances, she could not rely on her mother to proceed with her education and pursue the dream of becoming a doctor.
“My father disappeared when I was a baby. I have never seen him. My mother is mentally challenged. Before I came to school, I had to do menial jobs to raise money for my mother and brother’s food,” Waruona says.
Pushed by the challenges facing her at home and the zeal to achieve her dreams, an optimistic Waruona walked from home at Ubarini – some seven kilometres away – and presented herself for Grade 10 entry interview at Materi Girls’ Centre.
Materi Girls' Centre is a private and Catholic-run school, established by missionaries for empowerment of girls.
“Having exhausted all options that could help me join Chogoria Girls’, I remembered Materi Girls’ is a walking distance from home. I came and explained my predicament and was allowed to do an entry interview. Gladly, I passed the interview and was allowed to report to school,” Waruona recounts.
Even as she settles in at school, Waruona’s biggest worry is how her mother and brother, who is in grade four, will survive.
Speaking to Nation at the school on Friday, Waruona believes that she could have performed better in her junior secondary exams were it not for the frequent interruption of her studies.
“I was always on and off class due to lack of school fees. Whenever I was sent home, I would work in farms and raise money for food and fees for me as well as my brother. Now that I am joining boarding school, I don’t know how my mother will cope,” she says.
Waruona is now banking on well-wishers to raise her school fees, living expenses as well as her family’s upkeep.
According to Materi Girls’ Centre Director Sebastian Mbae, they admitted Waruona despite having no money or personal items.
Scholastica Waruona, 14, a needy grade 10 student at Materi Girls Centre, on January 16, 2026. She reported to school with nothing but hope.
Photo credit: David Muchui | Nation Media Group
“When we listened to her story and saw her determination, we could not send her back. This school is founded on principles of Christianity and empowerment of girls. We are glad that well-wishers are showing interest in supporting Waruona’s education,” Mr Mbae said.
He appealed to well-wishers to raise funds to help Waruona complete Senior School and pursue university education.
Materi Girls’ Centre Principal Dennis Micheni said the school management was currently supporting Waruona to settle down and focus on her education.
“Our guidance and counselling department is supporting Waruona and she has been provided with all she needs as we await support from well-wishers,” Mr Micheni said.
Waruona, who is specialising in pure sciences, believes that she will achieve her dream of pursuing medicine at the university.
Her story of resilience has stirred various well-wishers who are now coming forward to raise fees and provide personal items.
Imenti Development Forum, a community empowerment organisation, is already fundraising for Waruona's education.
On Friday, Affecto Foundation Founder Ndungu Nyoro also announced that well-wishers had offered to pay Waruona's first and second term fees.
Kenneth Murithi, the founder of Ken Care Foundation, also donated bedding and food for Waruona's mother even as more well-wishers came out in support.
