By James Wakahiu
Students in institutions of higher learning have been advised to be on the lookout for local and international scholarships on offer as well as for organizations offering financial aid to students.
Mount Kenya University’s Principal Corporate Services and Communication, Prof. Peter Wanderi, says apart from the well know government funding agency for students, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), there are many other organizations willing to sponsor university students.
These include the national Government’s Affirmative Action Fund, County government bursaries, Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and private Education Trust Funds (ETFs) such as Saale Gobanai, Saku Forum, Turuya,
Rattansi, Oxfam, Oshwal and Care International, among others
“There are also Non-governmental Organizations such as Chalbi Scholars and Direct Aid Kenya as well as multinational organizations such as the Danish Refugee council,” he said.
Prof. Wanderi spoke at the just concluded three-day Second International Conference on Peace, Security and Social Enterprise hosted by MKU at the Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre in Thika town where the conference brought together about 1,000 stakeholders in government and private sector with the aim of creating focus on best paradigms needed to entrench peace, security, socio-economic and political development.
To further boost financial aid to students at MKU, the institution has created a charitable arm, the Mount Kenya University Foundation. Located at the institution’s main campus in Thika town, it aims to harness public and private support for the advancement of the training, research and community outreach mandates of the university.
“The mission of the foundation is to advocate and support the advancement of higher education in MKU by obtaining, investing, and administering grants and prudently discharging its fiduciary obligations to the university, donors, and designated beneficiaries,” Prof Wanderi said,
Earlier this year, the foundation advertised for scholarship opportunities to all students studying across all MKU campuses in Kenya valued at Sh5 million. “The foundation provides a structured avenue for alumni, friends, corporations, institutions and philanthropists to give gifts and donations,” he added.
