MEET THE WOMAN WHO DEFIED HER AGE BY GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AT AGE 32; SHE NOW WANTS TO MEET THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA

After sitting for her KCPE exams in 1991 at Ageng'a Primary School in Samia Sub County, Busia County, she failed to transition to Secondary School even after emerging the top girl in the School with 420 marks out of the maximum 700.

Eunice Florence Sabi at her home

At the age of 43, Eunice Florence Sabi, a mother of two, is not yet done; she has lots of dreams and she’s determined to pursue them.

Eunice, was brought up in a humble family background, she defied many odds to go through high school. She raised eyebrows when she decided to join form one at the age of 32years; it was the talk of town. the sleepy Sio-port trading center became a buzz of activities as people traveled from far and wide to have a glimpse of her, so many organizations were not left behind either, they were impressed wither her effort to go back to school at that age.

Eunice Florence Sabi at school

After sitting for her KCPE exams in 1991 at Ageng'a Primary School in Samia Sub County, Busia County, she failed to transition to Secondary School even after emerging the top girl in the School with 420 marks out of the maximum 700. Eunice had big dreams of becoming a doctor; she however failed to secure a place at Nangina Girls High School after her parents were unable to raise the fees."I was too heartbroken but there was nothing i could do,"she recalls, “my parents had no stable income. “She adds.

Between 1991 and 1993, she still hoped that one day a good Samaritan would come around and take her back to school. She badly wanted to be like her former classmates "i liked how they easily communicated in English,i used to pick some few words from them,"she says with a giggle.

In 1993, after a long unsuccessful wait for a good Samaritan to show up and take her back to school, she got married to Elly Oundo, a fisherman. Her marriage life could not distract her from reading; she borrowed books from her friends to read. One of her friend, Aisha Okutoyi and her husband, Leonard Oduory were impressed by her thirst for school, they advised her to enroll at a nearby day school.

She joined the nearby Bujwang'a Mixed Day Secondary School in 2007, 16 years after sitting for her KCPE exams. Bujwang'a Secondary was then still a new school having been built by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

It was a decision that had to come at a cost because she had to pay for her own school fees, but thanks to her supportive husband a close relative, Pittyline Achieng and some bursaries from the Constituency kitty,she was able to clear her fees in time.

Trying to balance between school life and motherhood was the greatest challenge that stood before her."It was a really difficult task balancing between school life and motherhood, my eldest son was then in class seven and the youngest in class two, after school I had to deal with domestic this made me go to bed late in the night, "she remembers.

It was even difficult when her eldest child, Darlton Lorenzo Lugera joined her at the same school after his KCPE exams. Eunice was then in form three, this meant that they had to dig deeper into their pockets to raise enough fees for both mother and son.

At school, due to her motherly figure, she could take her time counseling fellow students especially girls; she also helped them to nurture their sporting talents especially in netball, a sport she excelled in during her primary school days.

One day, just like a good gesture to the school that had stood with her for long, she decided to make a flower bed around the school, this impressed her principal Mr.Stephen Odebero Nageri he decided to waive some of her fees.

In 2010,she sat for her KCSE managing to score a mean grade of C-(minus),this was not enough to make her achieve her dream of being a doctor. She was able to secure a Scholarship in 2011 to pursue an Early Childhood Development Education in Thogoto Kiambu County courtesy of her former primary school teacher Gilbert Bwire where she later graduated.

Despite going through this sacrifices Eunice who is now 43, is yet to be employed, she is still helper teacher at Bujwang'a primary school after she failed to secure a chance at the recent Busia County ECDE teacher’s recruitment exercise.

Her story has inspired many women in her area, some who dropped out of school due to various reasons like lack of school fees or early pregnancies they take her as their role model she now wants to meet the president to discuss so many matters that the women like her have gone through.

"I meet those daily to inspire them some have also gone back to school my urge to meet the president is to share with him the predicaments this women undergo, i know he will listen because he values education so much. “She concludes.

She and her husband Elly Oundo, still a fisherman, have gone through difficult times to take their children to school but thank God, they are almost done their eldest son Darlton is currently going through his fourth year at the University of Nairobi while their last born will be sitting for his KCSE exams at the end of the year.