By Gerald Mukembu
In a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, Naomi Kendi shared the agonizing story of her son, Nicholas Kairithia, a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate who tragically passed away due to an unknown liver disease, just as he was preparing to sit for his exams at Kamaro Secondary School in Meru County.
Since January, Nicholas had been battling unexplained stomach pain, prompting his mother to seek help at Kenyatta National Hospital.
What began as routine discomfort turned into a nightmare when doctors discovered a rare growth on his liver, one they had never encountered before.
“The doctors proposed surgery, but further tests showed that the necessary conditions for the operation were not met,” Kendi recalled, her voice thick with emotion. “It was devastating. I had no idea that we were losing him.”
As the students geared up for the KCSE examinations countrywide, meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma confirmed that two other female candidates were also in the hospital preparing to deliver their babies.
“Meru County has 29,148 candidates sitting for the exams in 412 centers,” Ouma noted, a stark contrast to the heartache felt by the Kairithia family.
Despite undergoing a series of painful tests, including a biopsy at Agha Khan Hospital in October, the news was heartbreaking. “Doctors told me there was nothing more they could do. On Saturday evening, despite showing some signs of improvement, he succumbed to the disease,” Kendi said, tears streaming down her face.
Nicholas had dreams of becoming an electrical engineer, even expressing his determination to take his exams from a hospital bed if necessary. “He was adamant that he wanted to continue his education. He was so talented, especially with wiring,” Kendi explained, reflecting on her son’s unwavering spirit.
Amos Kaimenyi, Nicholas’s brother, made a poignant plea for assistance, revealing the family had sold their only land to pay for Nicholas’s medical care. “I was committed to supporting him through his exams. But now it’s too late,” he lamented. “We are out of funds, and we urgently need help to give our brother a proper burial.”
