Desperate times call for desperate measures.
A student at Kenya Medical Training College, Embu Campus has opted to sale his kidney to raise college fees.
Michael Muruthi Wanjohi resolved to sell a body organ after the college barred him from continuing with his training and examinations unless he settles fees arrears of Sh67,700.
He’s looking for a person who will offer adequate money to offset the fee arrears and also pay his fees for remaining years at KMTC
The 22-year-old second year diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery student wants nothing to dim his life dream of becoming a medic.
Muruthi who hails from a poor background in Githakwa village, Tetu constituency, Nyeri County says he has tried applying for bursaries, approaching potential well-wishers and even organizing a fundraiser, but in vain.
He adds that his single mother cannot afford to pay the fee arrears.
“We don’t have any property to sell to raise money. My mother works as a casual worker in a tea plantations and lives in a rented room,” he says.
He reveals that he qualified for the Nyeri County Government bursary of Sh10,000 and another from Tetu CDF of Sh3,000, which marginally reduced the fees required.
The alumni of Kiriti High School scored a B- in the 2014 KCSE but failed to attain the cut-off point for admission to university on government sponsorship.
Determined to pursue a career in medicine, he sought employment at a Nyeri hotel and later in Embu County where he saved Sh67,000 that he used to enroll to KMTC in September 2017.
Muruthi says from his medical classes, he learnt that one can survive on one kidney and he is ready to take that route by selling one.
“If a doctor approves that I’m compatible with the buyer, I’ll go ahead, sell it and have it harvested from me. I’ll have helped save the recipient’s life while getting a chance to complete my studies and thus be in a position to help the community as a medic,” he argues.
Aware of the risks associated with donating a kidney and the ethical issues of selling a body organ, Muruthi avers that he can discard the idea if a well-wisher comes to his rescue.
Muruthi says he has discussed the issue with his mother who was shocked at the idea, but did not have an alternative.
KMTC Embu campus Principal D.K Siabei in a letter dated February 12, appealed to concerned persons to accord Muruthi any assistance as he is in dire need of school fees.