Homa Bay Grandmother’s Chicken Payment Sparks Heartwarming Community Support.
In a touching display of determination and love, a grandmother from Adiedo, Homa Bay County, Kenya, made headlines after bringing six live chickens to Adiedo Mixed Secondary School as partial payment for her grandchildren’s outstanding school fees. The grandmother, Consolata Aoko Oduya, took the unconventional step after her grandchildren, Hillary Omondi and Mitchell Akoth, were sent home due to an unpaid fee balance of KSh 245,000 (£1,450). Her heartfelt gesture not only highlighted the challenges faced by many families but also inspired an outpouring of support from across the region.
Consolata, a subsistence farmer, arrived at the school with her grandchildren and the chickens, hoping the principal, James Kabarak, would accept them as payment to offset part of the debt. Each chicken was valued at KSh 1,000 (£6), and Consolata pleaded for a receipt of KSh 6,000 (£35) to allow her grandchildren to return to their studies. In a poignant moment captured in viral photos, one of the chickens laid an egg during the discussion, symbolising her desperate yet earnest plea. Although the principal initially accepted only two chickens, citing the school’s need for cash, the story quickly gained traction online, touching the hearts of many.
The viral images, shared widely on social media platforms, prompted an immediate response from kind-hearted individuals. Kisumu-based philanthropist Nathaniel Odongo, CEO of Humanity Touch Charity Organisation, stepped in with a generous contribution of KSh 50,000 (£295) towards the fees. He also pledged to sponsor Hillary and Mitchell until they complete their secondary education. “I have decided to support Mitchell and Hillary until the end of their secondary school journey,” Odongo said. He went further, providing shopping for the family and ensuring Consolata could take her chickens back home. “I came here downtrodden with the chickens, and I am going back home with them,” Consolata said gratefully.
The story didn’t end there. Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga, moved by the family’s plight, announced a scholarship for Hillary and Mitchell that will cover their education through to college. This transformative gesture ensures the siblings, who live with their grandmother, can pursue their academic dreams without financial barriers. The community’s response extended beyond Homa Bay, with comedian and philanthropist Eric Omondi launching a social media campaign to locate the family, urging his followers to help him provide further support. “Please help me find this mother. If you know her, DM me or comment with her number,” Omondi posted, reflecting the widespread goodwill sparked by Consolata’s actions.
The incident has also shed light on broader issues in Kenya’s education system, particularly the delays in government capitation funds to schools. Principal Kabarak noted that cases like Consolata’s highlight the need for prioritised bursary disbursements, as many students face similar financial struggles. “With the school calendar running into its fourth week and capitation payments still delayed, a crisis is emerging,” he told local media.
Consolata expressed her deep gratitude to all who came to her family’s aid. “I want to thank God for touching Nathaniel’s heart to pay my grandchildren’s school fees. May God continue to bless him,” she said. For Hillary and Mitchell, the support means a brighter future, while Consolata’s chickens—now safely back home—have become a symbol of hope and community solidarity.
This heartwarming story underscores the power of collective compassion and the lengths to which a grandmother’s love can inspire change. As Consolata returns to her farm with her chickens, her grandchildren are back in school, their dreams intact, thanks to the kindness of strangers and the leadership of local figures.
