Yvonne, 17, is a teenage mother. She delivered her child only weeks to her KCPE Exams and stayed a whole month at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital nursing a baby born without anal opening.
A few days to her exams, she left the baby in hospital under the care of her grandmother so she could write her exams. Against all odds, she scored 370 marks – earning a Form 1 placement at Kolanya Girls National School.
And with the sponsorship of Mwabini Children’s Home stopping at primary, Yvonne stared at a bleak future.
At home, Yvonne shared a one-roomed rented mud wall house in Kamusinga with her 5-month child, twin sister in Form 2 at Kibingei Secondary School and her grandmother.
They paid Sh700 a month for the dilapidated shack, eaten by termintes and reduced to a mere shell by weather and up to today, they were several months in arrears. Several times in the past, they have been evicted.
Today Governor Wycliffe Wangamati paid them a visit at their rented house to seek to change their story. Governor cleared their rent arrears for 4 months and moved Yvonne, Baby Shalom, her twin sister and her grandmother to a new home where they will stay temporarily for 6 months as he puts up a permanent home for this family.
The Governor also offered Yvonne a full scholarship that will enable her join Kolanya Girls to begin her high school education.
He also enrolled Harriet Barasa, the twin sister, who is in form two at Kibingei Friends school a special county bursary that will see her join boarding. Everyday for two years, Harriet has been waking up at 3am and leaving for home for school at 4am – a trek that takes her 2.5 hours one way.
To keep the family going, the Governor gave Yvonne’s grandmother Sh10,000 for upkeep.
For Baby Shalom, Governor booked an appointment with MTRH for colostomy and the surgery that will be done in stages.
Yvonne’s life is the story of pain. Originally from Mt Elgon, her family was displaced in the conflicts that have characterised the region for decades. Her grandfather was killed…and her father attacked and left for the dead. Nobody knows his whereabouts and whether he is alive or dead.
To Yvonne, Kimilili was their refuge and today, Governor just changed that story from pain and despair to hope with a promise to them that not even the sky is the limit.