A boy from Laikipia who excelled at last year's KCPE and was offered a place at Maranda High School is burning charcoal in the area to raise school fees. 15-year-old Samuel Owino who got 377 marks at Tharua Primary School in Laikipia Central is an IDP.

Speaking to the Star at his "stall" where he is selling charcoal to villagers, Owino says he want to become an electrical engineer.

He said he was supposed to join the school last Monday but his 68-year-old father Peter Ongar Ondago who is a casual laborer was unable to raise the Sh74,000 school fees needed for first term.

Owino was in 2007 learning at Simirera Primary School in Naivasha but was displaced when violence erupted in the region following the general election.

Tharua senior teacher John Munene said despite the challenges, Owino emerged the top student in a public school at Laikipia Central since he is a very hard working and disciplined student.

The chairman of the school committee Charles Nderi appealed to well wishers saying it would be unfortunate for Owino not to realise his dreams due to lack of school fees.