A bright student from Ilbissil in Kajiado County who excelled in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations is now ferrying water for a living, his dream of becoming a doctor on hold because his family cannot afford university fees.
Rhodelix Kyalo attended Lenana School, one of Kenya’s most prestigious national schools, after a sponsor stepped in to fund his secondary education.
He worked hard and attained a B+ in his final examinations, a grade that qualified him for a degree programme in medicine.
Rhodelix returns home to Ilbissil
But when the time came to transition to university, the sponsorship had ended and the family had nowhere to turn.
Without the money required to secure his university placement, Rhodelix returned home to Ilbissil and began selling water to earn a living.
He loads and delivers water to households in the area, a job that is both physically demanding and unreliable.
Which school did Rhodelix attend?
The recent rains in Kajiado have even disrupted that income stream, reducing demand and leaving him with less work.
“I studied at Lenana School and performed well, scoring a B+. I have not joined university because of life’s challenges, and right now I am simply working selling water because there is no other option. Now that it has rained, this job has also been affected,” Rhodelix said.
His mother, Gladys Minaye, works as a casual labourer, taking on any available work to put food on the table.
What does Rhodelix’s mum do?
She washes clothes for neighbours and takes on manual tasks such as chopping pumpkins, doing whatever is necessary to keep the family going.
She has since appealed to the government to help her son and other students from humble backgrounds who are unable to access higher education.
Those who know Rhodelix in the community describe a young man of good character.
Rhodelix praised by community member
“I have known this young man since he was a child. He has grown into a tall, respectful and well-mannered young man,” one community member said.
Another resident added: “We get our water from this young man. He is educated and performed well in his examinations, but because of the high cost of living, his parents cannot afford to support him.”
Rhodelix’s story reflects the difficult reality faced by many talented students across Kenya who complete secondary school with strong grades but are unable to access higher education due to financial barriers.
