By Lydia Ngoolo
Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has told the 100 beneficiaries of the county scholarship programme that their academic progress will be strictly monitored.
Speaking when officiating the event at the governor’s compound recently, he said there were so many needy bright students who deserved the chance but were left out, so the few who got the opportunity should not misuse it lest they are struck off the list.
The county selected 90 beneficiaries where each ward produced three candidates. The other 10 beneficiaries were from the office of the governor totaling 100 beneficiaries.
While revealing that the county will extend the program till university and beyond, Mutula called on well-wishers in the diaspora to assist students get scholarships in the countries they are in.
The 2022 KCSE top boy in the county who was a beneficiary of the scholarship, Sergio Malika from Makueni Boys, said he was waiting to join university and encouraged the awardees not to misuse the opportunity.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education Elizabeth Muli noted that so far 590 students had benefitted from the programme since its inception.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairman Julius Mutwii promised to sponsor one needy bright student to secondary and called for expansion of the programme.
Makueni County Director of Education James Gachugi encouraged the beneficiaries to be responsible so they sustain themselves through the given opportunity.
Mukaa ward MCA Joseph Muema reminded students to maintain their focus on studies and desist from participating in vices that will derail them from their studies.
“Take care and don’t be influenced by others who don’t know what took them to secondary school. Teenage is a dangerous age and you should be extra careful not to ashame yourself, parents and the county as a whole,” said Muema.
