Eight bright candidates from poor backgrounds who sat for 2019 Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination from Laikipia have benefitted with scholarships from Equity Bank Wings to fly programme to pursue their secondary school education.
The eight, four girls and four boys from Laikipia East, Central and North sub-counties will have their secondary education fully paid for by the bank under the programme that sponsors bright students from poor backgrounds.
The Nanyuki Equity Bank Manager, Benson Kinyua while flagging off the team in the town on Monday said that a total of 117 applications for sponsorship from the area were received by the selection committee but only eight who were considered as the most deserving cases.
“The selection committee had to visit their homes and ascertain the state of their backgrounds and ensure we award the sponsorship to the most deserving cases. Most of them come from extremely poor homes,” Kinyua said.
He added that a total of 128 pupils have so far benefitted from the Wings to Fly programme in the area since the scholarships began 11 years ago to assist those faced with financial constraints.
Among the beneficiaries of the programme included 14 year old street child, Nahashon Njuguna who scored 361 marks and has been admitted at Thome Boys secondary school in Laikipia County.
An elated Njuguna said that he hopes to pursue a career in medicine and not only give back to society but also inspire other less fortunate children growing up in difficult circumstances.
“It was hard growing up without parents after they both died while I was young and before I was 10 years I was already fending for myself in the streets, later on I was rescued by a charitable home that also took me to school. I will forever be grateful to them,” Njuguna said.
Others beneficiaries included orphans and those with sickly and elderly parents.
The Laikipia County Director of Education, Susan Murerwa who graced the occasion challenged the beneficiaries to work hard in school and help alleviate their families from the bondage of poverty.
By Martin Munyi
