Third year student washes clothes to raise school fees

A third year university student from Kwale County, who was forced to discontinue her education because of lack of school fees, has opted to wash clothes to raise money for her education.

Daisy Awino, a Bachelor of Business Administration student at Moi University, dropped out of university after her father’s leg was amputated.

Awino’s father, who was the main breadwinner, could no longer support her education after the operation.

“When my father’s leg was amputated because of diabetes, I decided to drop out in the second semester of my third year. I joined my mother in washing clothes to raise money,” Awino said.

They earn about Ksh.300 to Ksh.500 a day.

“We try to save the money to see if we can manage to raise the fees, but since there is no other money in the house, we use the cash for food and other needs,” she explained.

Daisy says she has not lost hope despite the challenges; she believes she will get back to campus and complete her studies.

“When am washing clothes, I feel bad but I encourage myself because I am the first born and my siblings are looking up to me,” she says.

Awino owes the university Ksh.450, 000 – an amount that she needs to clear before she can continue with her education.

Her mother, Millicent Achieng’, says times have been tough for her family since her husband lost his leg.

“Our hope has diminished. We had big dreams for Daisy; as the first born, we hoped that her degree could help her get a job – employment that would help her support the rest of the family.” she says.

Her father, George Otiende, is an electrician by profession. He says he can no longer work because of his amputation.

“Most of the money I get now is for my diabetic condition. I don’t get many electrical jobs as I used to get before” he says.