Frank Otwori settles down at Nyambaria Boys High School
For Franklin Otwori, joining the prestigious Nyambaria School is the best thing that ever happened to his life.
Otwori who comes from a humble background joined the academic powerhouse late February, 2017, after his plight was brought to the attention of the William &Dinah Oigara Community Foundation.
The foundation went beyond its initial objectives and offered to give Otwori a four year scholarship at Nyambaria after he obtained 382 marks out of the possible 500 from Tindereti Primary School.
“I’m very happy of the foundation because it came to my rescue just when my dream of joining my school of choice seemed impossible,” Otwori said last week.
Speaking when Dr Joyce Oigara who is the director of the foundation officially delivered the scholarship certificate at the school, Otwori prayed that the foundation may receive abundant resources to support more students who would otherwise miss to pursue their education due to poverty.
Otwori is already a shining star at the budding national school, going by his performance in First Term 2017.
Though he reported late to the school, records show that he took position One in his Form 1 Blue stream and position 11 overall.
“I hope to do even better and join university. My good results will determine the destiny of my family which now lives in abject poverty,” Otwori who was franked with his peers told this writer at the school.
His class teacher, Karls Mikuro said: “We received Otwori in February and he is a very disciplined, dedicated and bright boy. He posted impressive grades in First Term and I am optimistic that he will better his best.”
The school’s principal Gerald Orina was upbeat with the gesture of the William and Dinah Oigara Community Foundation.
“This is an encouraging gesture. However, we have more needy cases and going forward, I will be happier if they can support more of our boys,” Orina said.
During the brief ceremony, Dr Oigara who was accompanied by environmentalist Vicky Onderi also presented to Otwori course books , writing materials and cash of Ksh5, 000 for related personal upkeep.
“As the Oigara family, we are proud of this boy because he is the first one whom we have accorded a full scholarship following the Academic launch in 2011 at Tindereti primary,” Dr Oigara said.
She said the initial aim of the foundation was to give back to the Tindereti community in Borabu constituency where they all grew and schooled.
“Our parents loved education and they gave us the best. We all studied at Tindereti Primary School and went on join the best high schools and universities in Kenya and abroad. So when we realized that the school had lost its former glory, we decided to revive it,” Dr Oigara said.
She said the foundation works in partnership with the government, individuals and corporate organizations in its mission to empower the community.
“Through the partnerships, we installed electricity, built and stocked a library and motivated pupils to work smart in their studies,” she said.
The director said Otwori was the first pupil from the school to score over 350 marks, a target that the foundation had set for cash and material rewards.
“But we discovered even with our reward, the boy could not join Nyambaria because his parents Josephine Kerubo and Thomas Ogeto could not afford it. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to give him a scholarship,” she said.
“Our appeal is to encourage stakeholders, former students( alumni) at Tindereti primary and friends of like minds to join us in this endeavor to expand the initiative for the community good” says Dr Oigara .
Otwori’s parents are menial workers at a home in Borabu, and are banking on him for a better future.