Meru Women Representative Elizabeth Kailemia has said her projects to empower students from humble backgrounds by sponsoring their education will give hope to many children from low-income families.
Kailemia said she always had a passion for educating children, noting that she would not like to see any child at home due to the lack of school fees.
The lawmaker said she started the program even before she became a legislator.
She spoke at her office during the fourth mentoring, celebrating the Form Four leavers sponsored by the Kailemia Foundation and NGAAF.
“I had a passion for educating children. I would not like to see any child at home due to a lack of school fees. That is why I started the Kailemia Foundation to sponsor students in primary and secondary schools,” she said.
She said she mostly sponsors secondary school students, but is forced to chip in on needy cases in primary schools.
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“There was one who was selling fruits in Maua town, where I had to take her to a boarding school because he was an orphan,” said Kailemia.
She said she concentrates more on students from Meru, noting that currently, there are 600 scholarships from Form One to Form Four, while others are in universities and technical schools.
The legislator said the 31 students who had benefited from the program will be advised on how to choose their careers.
“They need to be guided on how to choose their careers and fill in their KUCCPS. I ask them to avoid peer pressure and perform well,” she said.
She said she decided to take the 31 to university and technical schools to ensure they fully benefited.
“Even if it is looking for jobs for them, I am willing to help them to ensure they have fully benefited from me because I am also a parent,” she said.
Mercy Gatwiri, a guidance and counselling teacher at Kirigara Girls, said they were guiding students on skilled courses they could undertake.
She said the graduates don’t need to be employed after the courses because they can start their businesses and be self-employed.
Mwakazi Murithi, a student from Burieruri High School, said the mentorship will help him to focus on his education.
By John Majau
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