The Ministry of Education has selected 159 needy students from Murang’a County to receive the Elimu scholarship this year.
The beneficiary Students scheduled to report to secondary schools starting January 15 will receive full scholarships for the next four years.
Speaking during flagging off of the scholarship at Technology primary school, Murang’a county director of education Anne Kiilu observed that the selection committee picked the neediest students for the scholarship saying those applied were more than 5, 000.
She noted members of the committee were forced to visit homes of those who were shortlisted to ascertain whether the applicants qualified for the scholarship.
The scholarship which will be administered by the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and Equity bank is targeting to benefit 11, 000 learners nationally.
Kiilu stated that selecting beneficiaries was challenging, with the selection committee, chaired by interior ministry officers, visiting shortlisted homes to prioritize the neediest cases.
Hence, the director urged the recipients to maintain discipline and diligent study habits, as failure to meet set standards often results in the scholarship being canceled.
She further insisted that, “If you misbehave at school and join the wrong company that causes chaos at the learning institutions, know that the scholarship will be terminated. We expect you to perform well, be disciplined so that your future may be bright,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kilu asked last year’s KCSE candidates who did not attain grades to join university to consider enrolling in Technical and Vocational Institutions.
The Director highlighted that the government has significantly invested in TVETS, offering a diverse range of courses for middle-level college students.
“TVETS are offering a range of technical courses. Those who got grades that cannot make them join universities I urge them to pursue a course in middle level colleges,” she appealed.
Speaking during the same occasion, David Kasyoka, a representative from the county commissioner’s office, praised the team responsible for the 10-day selection process for the Elimu scholarship beneficiaries.
The team conducted the exercise transparently, visiting applicants’ homes before deciding who to benefit from.
Kasyoka told the beneficiaries that the only way of showing appreciation to the government is through posting good performance in their studies.
A representative of Jomo Kenyatta Foundation Julius Thuku observed that the scholarship has been beneficial for many destitute learners who could not afford secondary education.
He noted the programme which was established last year, has sponsored education of thousands of learners across the country, stating that the main aim is to uplift the welfare of children from poor backgrounds.
By Bernard Munyao and Angelica Mwangi
