By Obegi Malack
The Ministry of Education through Elimu Scholarship Program and The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) has awarded scholarships to needy secondary school students from Kajiado West sub county.
The scholarship will benefit 18 students out of 123 students who applied. JKF sponsored half of the students with Equity sponsoring the rest.
Ngong’ Equity Bank credit manager Benjamin Olukoye challenged the students to perform saying the sponsors will not allow underperformance and asked the students to be role models to the community.
JKF sales representative Millicent Olela said the programme was started to ensure needy children get an opportunity to get an education and also as a way to give back to the community.
Kajiado West Deputy County Commissioner Moranga Morekwa said the beneficiaries selected for the 2023 cohort were the most deserving and their selection into the programme was based on solid, verifiable and objective criteria.
He asked the community to educate children and do away with Female General Mutilation and early marriage.
Kajiado West Education officer Philip Leruso said most students who benefit from sponsors forget the challenges they use to face when studying in primary level and asked them to maintain focus and determination in their studies.
Kajiado West Elimu branch champion Hellen Njuguna said that face-to-face interviews and home visits were done before awarding the scholarships to ensure the most deserving learners were awarded.
FGM and early marriage survivor activist Nancy Milanoi OGW said that one of the beneficiaries was an FGM survivor. She shunned the practice and urged the community to do away with dangerous cultural practices.
One of the beneficiaries, Simpiri Saiko, who scored 388 marks from Olgumi Primary School will join Nairobi school. He promised to continue performing, join university and study medicine.
Scholarship programmes in the country such as Elimu Scholarship and Wings to Fly continue to provide opportunities for equitable access to education in the country. This complements the Government’s efforts in ensuring that there is a 100% transition rate to secondary school.
Elimu Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Government of Kenya and World Bank in partnership with Equity Bank.
The scholarship caters for school tuition fee, transport, school kit and pocket money for the four-year education period.
JKF Scholarship Programme also improves access to education and transition through provision of scholarships and mentorship to academically promising Kenyan orphans and children from poor vulnerable backgrounds in public secondary schools.
Founded in 1968, over 10,000 students have benefitted from the JKF Programme since its inception.
