Bondo: Anastasia Atabo Lokor, a student from Turkana County whose plight was highlighted by media houses late last year after she failed to join the university due to lack of school fees, has finally been admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). Anastasia will now pursue a Bachelor of Education Science degree at the university after receiving support from the Legio Maria church.
According to Kenya News Agency, Anastasia, who scored a B- in 2023, was admitted to JOOUST but was unable to join in September last year as her family could not afford the fees for her education. Elated yet emotional, Anastasia disclosed that she resorted to selling water at her home in Turkana East to raise money to pursue her dreams. "I was a bit disappointed when my classmates were joining campus last year and I remained home because I did not have money, I decided to sell water to raise funds," said Anastasia.
She expressed gratitude to the Legio Maria church members for their support after her story was aired in the media, acknowledging their role in helping her realize her dream. As the firstborn in a family of nine children, Anastasia looks forward to becoming a teacher after completing her studies so she can assist her siblings and transform her family's financial situation.
According to Bishop Martin Nyahoa of Legio Maria Bondo Diocese, the church will provide Anastasia with full financial support throughout her four-year study. Bishop Nyahoa stated that the church learned about Anastasia's plight through the media and decided to intervene, considering her impoverished background and her membership in the Legio Maria church in Turkana. He highlighted the church's ongoing efforts to support the education of many students across public universities in the country and encouraged beneficiaries of any sponsorship to give back to society to support other students.
Dr. Walter Akuno, the registrar of academic and student affairs at JOOUST, confirmed Anastasia's official admission to the university. He emphasized that students admitted to JOOUST should not fail to report due to lack of school fees, as the university has arrangements to assist students in applying for HELB loans and bursaries while on campus. "I know Anastasia, coming from a humble background in Turkana, may not have had information, and she has lost a whole year of study, but all is not lost. We have officially admitted her but the same should not happen to any student admitted to study in JOOUST. They should just report and be guided accordingly," Akuno advised.
The Association of Students from Turkana and Samburu at the university, led by their chair, Lobwinde Dikar, gathered at the campus to welcome one of their own, promising her their full support to ensure she is comfortable at the campus.