Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has announced full sponsorship for 81 bright but needy students from the county to pursue higher education at universities of their choice. The beneficiaries, who sat their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2024, will have their first-year tuition fully covered under the county’s scholarship programme.
Speaking during the students’ orientation ceremony, Governor Mutula called on the Ministry of Education to maintain consistency in policy implementation, warning that frequent changes were creating confusion.
“The university fee has been reduced but on condition. The Education Cabinet Secretary should give a clear directive on fee payment without conditions. We call for removal of such conditions.” he said.
Mutula revealed that in the past two weeks alone, his office had received over 200 requests for sponsorship, underscoring the high demand for educational support. He urged the beneficiaries to count themselves fortunate, promising continued support provided they present their academic progress reports each semester.
“We are giving you a cheque to cater for one full year in university. We promise to continue sponsoring you, but at the end of every semester you must bring your statements so that we can monitor your progress,” he told the students.
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The governor also advised the students to remain disciplined, focus on their studies, and not be distracted by their family backgrounds. “As a parent, I remind you that you have not been sent to start families. There is time for everything. Take extra care,” he said.
Since its inception, the Makueni scholarship programme has benefited 758 students at both secondary and university levels. Mutula proposed that the county consider establishing a revolving fund to expand the programme, noting that reliance on the exchequer alone was unsustainable.
The chief guest, Machakos Boys High School Principal Benson Manoo, urged the students to uphold discipline, time management, and faith in God. He further challenged the government to prioritize education funding, pointing out gaps in the new university funding model.
One of the beneficiaries, Abigail Loko Mwongela, who is set to join Kirinyaga University for a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine, expressed gratitude to the county. “I thank the county leadership for sponsoring us. Now I can see a bright future ahead,” she said.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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