Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi has challenged all institutions offering scholarships and bursaries in the country to develop a common approach of identification that will ensure the most deserving beneficiaries are reached.
Speaking in Kabarnet town on Tuesday during the presentation of 16 beneficiaries of full scholarship under the Equity Wings to fly programme, Cheboi noted that there is an urgent need to adopt a system of selection to avoid duplications that may work to the disadvantage of other needy cases.
The governor stated that if the selection and identification criteria was streamlined, it will guarantee its objectivity of transforming the lives of many more beneficiaries as those covered by the scholarships will leave more chances in the bursary programme.
“This is a good opportunity for us to discuss with all those who are giving out bursaries and scholarships to see if we can develop a common approach of identifying the neediest cases,” he said.
Cheboi accompanied by his deputy Eng. Felix Maiyo and CEC for Education Rev Simon Kiuta lamented that many deserving and needy children in the county often miss out on such funds due to poor selection process.
He called for a wide consultation before awarding of such funds in order to avoid duplication by the various banks, governments and support organizations.
Cheboi stated that his administration from next month will be dispersing a Sh30 million bursary to learners in both secondary and tertiary institutions who are not benefiting from other organizations in order to give room to more students from the region to embark on their education.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to maintain a high sense of discipline when they join their respective secondary schools and offer a helping hand to others when they become successful in future.
“If someone holds your hand to cross a river make sure one day you hold another hand when you become great people in the society,” the Baringo boss advised the beneficiaries.
Equity Bank Kabarnet branch manager Micah Bett in his remarks said the 16 selected for 2023 class of wings to fly sponsorship programme are coming from all the seven sub counties in the county following an exemplary performance in the just concluded Kenya Certificate of Primary Examinations.
He challenged the students, some who are victims of gender based violence to take advantage of the financial support given to them to further their studies up to the highest level of knowledge.
Samuel Bungei, chairperson of the selection board noted that this year there was an increase in the number of applications in the region.
Bungei said because of limited vacancies, about 168 applicants did not qualify for the scholarship and called on well-wishers and corporate organizations in the area to assist in supporting education of the less fortunate in the society.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
