For Mary Akinyi, 8th January marked a very proud milestone. The 23-year-old lady who had been working as a barmaid has struggled to complete school, years after dropping out of class 4.

This year, she celebrates scoring a B+ from Rang’ala Girls High School in the recently released KCSE exams. One might wonder, what motivated Akinyi’s return to school?

Inevitable circumstances compelled Akinyi to take the less conventional route of leaving school and finding other means to survive and support her mother, as she lacked school fees.

After dropping out Mary Akinyi, forced by life’s challenges, worked as a barmaid in Bondo and Siaya towns. Here, she would take in a lot of mockery from her some of her bar patrons, colleagues and even customers.

“I worked as a barmaid in Bondo and Siaya towns after dropping out of school. It was not easy because some customers were mocking me,” she noted.

Due to mistreatment, Akinyi decided to resign from her bar job and find a way to return to the classroom. Initially, she felt disadvantaged, as she’d struggled to cope with fellow students.

With guidance and counselling, she was able to concentrate on her academics. Akinyi sat for her KCPE exams and scored 362 marks.

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A well-wisher came through for her and she was able to join Rang’ala Girls.

“I had challenges with school fees but through a well-wisher, I managed to join Ran’gala Girls,” she narrated.

“She worked well until she resigned. I didn’t know that she had gone back to school until she called one day to inform me that she was no longer a Standard Four dropout,” said Charles Ndaga, Akinyi’s former employer.

Now, she is a high school graduate with a B+ KCSE certificate bearing her name. However, a dark cloud looms consistently over her head.

The aspiring law degree holder has fee arrears amounting to over Sh. 180,000.