A bright, needy pupil who topped her school during last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations only to be selected into a national boys’ school will have her education catered for by the Alego – Usonga constituency development fund.
14-year-old Gloria Adhiambo Owino, who scored 389 marks to trounce other candidates at Nyalgunga Primary School, joins a list of 54 bright and needy students selected to benefit from the scholarship that will pay their fees for the entire four-year period.
Her mother, Margaret Awuor was among the parents who attended the launch cum flagging off of the beneficiaries at the CDF offices in Siaya town Wednesday.
Lost for words, Awuor could only thank the area member of parliament, Samuel Atandi, and the committee for coming to the aid of her daughter who has since been offered a chance at Ng’iya girls’ national school.
Alego–Usonga CDF chairman George Odede said that the 54 beneficiaries were part of the more than 130 applicants who sought to be considered for the full scholarship to enable them to pursue secondary education.
He said that the CDF adopted the strict vetting criteria that are used by scholarship programs like Wings to Fly and saw the list whittled down to 90 shortlisted candidates.
“After a visit to the families to ascertain the level of need, only 54 met the criteria,” he said adding that this was an increase from last year’s 25 beneficiaries.
Odede called on the beneficiaries to reciprocate the support they are getting by working hard in school and scoring marks that will enable them to secure competitive courses in institutions of higher learning.
Area CDF manager, Amos Apollo said this year, they are spending Sh3.1 million on full scholarships to students who are joining national, extra county, and county schools.
By last week, Gloria and her family were at a loss on what to do with the calling letter from Lenana’s school that, together with biting poverty, appeared to shut doors on her quest for secondary education.
The family lamented that the error had caused them anguish as it had locked her out of all scholarships.
By Philip Onyango
