In a significant boost to education and social welfare in Kiambu County, Woman Representative Hon. Ann Wamuratha has disbursed Sh4 million in school fees to support vulnerable students under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
Speaking at her office in Kirigiti, Kiambu Town, during an event to issue cheques to scholarship beneficiaries and local empowerment groups, Wamuratha emphasised that the investment in education is aimed at ensuring children from the most humble backgrounds in the county reach their full potential.
The Sh4 million disbursement targets a total of 105 students currently enrolled in various universities and high schools across the country. According to the lawmaker, the beneficiaries were selected from all 12 constituencies in Kiambu, with a focus on those identified as extremely vulnerable.
“Today, we were disbursing cheques that have been pending in schools for students whom we give full scholarships,” Wamuratha said. “We pick these children from all our 12 constituencies to ensure that the child who would never have had an opportunity in life finally gets one.”
While the current disbursement covers those on full scholarships, the Woman Representative noted that a separate batch of bursary cheques for other students would be released around the mid-term break.
Wamuratha issued a stern warning to the scholarship recipients, noting that continued support is tied to academic performance. She stressed that because the NGAAF kitty is limited, the office cannot afford to fund students who are not committed to their studies.
“If we put you on a full scholarship, you have to perform,” the lawmaker stated. “We are telling them we cannot be doing a full scholarship while they are lagging, when so many other students need the same help. It is the student’s part to give us the results so that we can see the value of what we have given them.”
She added that the goal is to provide hope and push the youth toward their destinies, noting that many students have already shown marked improvement after receiving such encouragement.
Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month, Wamuratha highlighted the intrinsic link between education, hope, and mental well-being. She expressed concern over the rising cases of suicide and murder in Kiambu, citing recent statistics from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) that place the county among the most affected.
To address the situation, she announced that her office has engaged a mental health expert to offer counselling services to the public. She further revealed plans to roll out a debriefing and support programme next month targeting the clergy, following recent cases involving the loss of senior pastors to suicide.
She also targets administrators and police officers, including chiefs and security personnel, who are frequently traumatised by the recovery of bodies. The community is also part of the programme, with a focus on encouraging open dialogue among men, who she noted are often more prone to suffering in silence.
Beyond education, the event also saw the distribution of Sh1.1 million in grants to 10 organised groups within Kiambu. These included eight women’s groups and two youth groups, one of which consists of bodaboda riders.
Wamuratha urged more men and youth to form organised groups, register as community-based organisations (CBOs), and apply for government grants and loans.
“For Mama County, this is purely a grant. It is not a loan. We want our men to get organised so we can empower them and reduce the mental health problems caused by financial despair,” she concluded.
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Through these combined efforts in educational funding and mental health advocacy, the Woman Representative’s office aims to create a more resilient and educated population in one of Kenya’s most populous counties.
By Felix Wanderi
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