Expanding educational opportunities for vulnerable learners will be a key priority for the Rotary Club of Nanyuki under its new leadership, incoming president Alex Kamau has said.
Kamau made the remarks during his installation ceremony on Saturday, where he called for greater collaboration between the club and organizations willing to support disadvantaged students across Laikipia County.
According to the club, many learners continue to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees and other essential support. While Rotary currently operates a scholarship programme, demand far exceeds available resources.
“We are going forward in deepening our scholarship fund to take more kids to school; our theme is to create lasting impact, and education is the best way in ensuring our community is safeguarded,” Kamau said.
The newly installed president said partnerships would be crucial in enabling the club to expand its impact in education and other community development initiatives.
“We need partners for our activities so that we can do good to our communities. I will boost visibility of what Rotary is about for more people to join hands,” he said.
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Kamau pledged to build on the club’s achievements while promoting the Rotary philosophy of “service above self.”
Outgoing president Becky Ngatia said the club had made notable contributions in recent years, including supporting classroom construction and renovation projects in remote pastoral communities, planting over 7,000 trees, and promoting hygiene awareness programmes.
“Rotary is about coming together; we have guidelines and our areas of focus. Including sustainable waste management and education, for instance, all donations are channelled to our scholarship fund,” she said.
Rotary Club Assistant Governor Matt Orcutt noted that Rotary’s global membership of more than 1.2 million people continues to drive community-centred development projects around the world.
He praised Kamau’s election and expressed optimism about the club’s future.
“With the new leadership in place, we will focus on new projects to change our community. The projects undertaken are community-led,” Orcutt said.
The appeal for partnerships comes amid growing concerns over school dropouts linked to economic hardship, with stakeholders increasingly calling for collective efforts to keep vulnerable children in school.
By Kimutai Langat
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