How teacher won 3-bedroom flat by assisting parents pay their childrens fees

How teacher won 3-bedroom flat by assisting parents pay their childrens fees

Edward Oluoch, a teacher at a little-known school in Siaya County, was in class when he received the phone call that would change his fortunes forever.

At first, the Mathematics and Geography tutor at Nyamonye Girls Secondary School thought it was Safaricom calling to inform him that a parent wanted to reverse money initially sent to him for a student’s use.

“I receive money on behalf of a lot of students often. Sometimes, when the parents are unable to come to school, they send me money for their children’s upkeep or school fee on M-Pesa,” Mr. Oluoch told Citizen Digital on Thursday.

“If the money is for upkeep and they task me with buying essentials for their children -which is most of the time – then I do and pay via Lipa Na Mpesa. Even school fee, if sent to me to pay for a student, I usually pay via M-Pesa because the school allows the service.”

However, as it turned out, the call wasn’t about a parent trying to reverse any money, but about Safaricom informing him that his long usage of the Lipa Na M-Pesa service had finally paid off.

According to the caller on the other end, a staffer at the telecommunications giant, Mr. Oluoch was the new winner of a fully furnished three-bedroom apartment in Riruta, Dagoretti.

All this while Mr. Oluoch had always thought he was only helping the students; unbeknownst to him, however, he was changing the world – and his life – with every Lipa Na M-Pesa transaction he made.

Mr. Oluoch was handed the keys to his new house on Friday last week in an elaborate ceremony attended by Safaricom staff led by the Chief Special Projects Officer, Joseph Ogutu, who showed him around the exquisite property.

Edward Oluoch, a Mathematics and Geography tutor at Nyamonye Girls Secondary School, with his wife and children after he won a three-bedroom apartment courtesy of the Lipa Na M-Pesa promotion. PHOTO | COURTESY
Edward Oluoch, a Mathematics and Geography tutor at Nyamonye Girls Secondary School, with his wife and children after he won a three-bedroom apartment courtesy of the Lipa Na M-Pesa promotion. PHOTO | COURTESY

The educator, who was accompanied by his wife and three children at the ceremony, highlighted transparency and accountability as the main reasons he is a regular user of the Lipa Na M-Pesa service.

He stated that, since it is practically impossible to commute from Nairobi to his school all the way in Bondo, his option for now will only be to rent out the hous and earn some income from it.

“Eventually, if my employer transfers me to Nairobi then I will move my family in and we can enjoy our stay in the new house,” he added.

Mr. Ogutu, on his part, stated: “We are very pleased with how Lipana M-Pesa has grown over time,” further assuring the public that they will recognize their customers in all the eight regions of the country.

He also stated that every minute, eight of their customers across the country are rewarded with a surprise instant cashback.

A quarry worker and security guard are among the other persons who have won houses in the Lipa Na M-PESA promotion that ends on the March 5, 2020.

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Edward Oluoch Lipa Na Mpesa Nyamonye Girls Secondary School

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