By Obegi Malack
About 160 bright but needy pupils from across the country will pursue their secondary education stress free after they were awarded a five year scholarship by the Kenya Education Fund (KEF).
The scholarship covers four years in secondary school, and one year in college.
The students received their cheques from the nongovernmental organization in a ceremony at Nazarene Church, Nairobi County.
KEF Executive Director and co-founder Dominic Muasya said the beneficiaries will also receive mentorship and life skills, productive health and will be prepared for transition to their careers of choice.
He said the organization’s main aim is to ensure needy students are in school, promising to sponsor more students if they get more finances from well-wishers.
The beneficiaries were interviewed in July 2022 before they sat their KCPE examinations. More than three thousand students had applied for the scholarship.
“Our students do well and have had a high rate of transition from high school to university,” he told Education News.
In the last KCSE exams, he disclosed that 99 percent of the students were able to transit to the next level due to the comprehensive support they are offered.
KEF chairperson Dr. Grace Waiharo noted that they are sponsoring close to five hundred beneficiaries who are now in secondary school.
Waiharo said the organization alumni donated hundreds of thousands to the organization for supporting more needy students.
One of the beneficiaries Valentine Sentei scored 342 marks out of the possible 500 from little known Iltilal Primary School (Public) in Kajiado South.
Her father died leaving behind seven children and she is hopeful to complete her secondary, thanks to the scholarship.
Prudential Life Assurance Kenya representative Stella Warui who is also KEF Board Director said they will support 85 students out of the 160 that will be joining the program this year.
Since its inception KEF has sponsored more than four thousand students in secondary education.
Director of Education Fredrick Kiiru who was the chief guest during the event noted that the sponsorship has boosted transition from primary to secondary.
He called on parents to give hope to their children who are from a needy background.
KEF goodwill ambassador Mr. Francis Munyao, locally known as MCA tricky and a comedian, challenged the beneficiaries to perform well in class.
He called on well-wishers to join the organization in supporting needy students to access education.
Mr. Munyao who has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kenyatta University said he received a scholarship after he dropped out of school and joined dangerous street life.
