Moments after K24 Digital highlighted the story of Eric Macharia Nyaga who beat all odds to score an A grade of 84 points in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, former Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Alfred Keter has offered full university sponsorship to the bright young man.
Tears of joy filled the air in the family of the 18-year-old Eric when the former legislator called the parents and informed them that he will sponsor the student through his university education.
Moses Nyaga, the father of the top KCSE candidate from Moi High School - Mbiruri in Embu county broke down into tears when he received Keter’s phone call owing to the fact that the family is really in need of financial support.
While speaking to K24 Digital, Nyaga revealed that despite his son posting exemplary performance in KCSE exams, he was not able to tell how the student would join university to further his studies.
“I’ve been praying and thanking God for what my son got in his KCSE exam but I’m very happy today because mheshimiwa Alfred Keter has called me and offered to support my son.”
“I’m actually shocked with the kind of humility expressed to me by a person of Mheshimiwa’s calibre. I pray for God to be with him and bless him all through,” Nyaga said.
On her part, Eric’s mother Ann Wawira, who sells vegetables in Kianjokoma market, could not hide her joy after receiving the good news from Keter, saying it would not have been easy for them to take their son to university.
"Mheshimiwa Keter is God sent and we are now certain that our son will go for his dream in the university. We are indeed thankful," Wawira told K24 Digital.
Furthermore, Eric who has a dream of undertaking his studies at the University of Nairobi and becoming a doctor, also had a chance to speak with the former Nandi legislator and expressed his happiness when we spoke with him.
“The call from former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has made my day. I don’t even know how such a person could talk to me directly. I’m so happy and thankful,” Eric said.
In Nairobi, Keter told K24 Digital that he had organized himself to visit the candidate’s family in Embu and offer his support in person.
“I’ve spoken with Eric and his parents and even his school principal and I will be glad to join them in Embu very soon. My happiness is to support bright needy students across the country,” he said.
Moi High School-Mbiruri Principal Patrick Nderitu who has also been briefed on the new development, has termed Eric as an academic genius whose future is promising and thanked Keter for his kindness.
Nderitu observed that the top student is a clear testimony that any student can perform well regardless of the primary school he/she went to.
''Eric went to a day primary school and he did very well. He has also done very well in his secondary level. This means every student can do well if focused," he explained.
Interestingly, Eric scored 414 marks and emerged top of his primary school in 2019 but still struggled to study in Secondary school due to his humble family background.
