More than 70 students from humble backgrounds in Laikipia County have benefited from Elimu scholarship programme.
Laikipia County Commissioner (CC), Jospeh Kanyiri, speaking to the media after, flagging-off the scholarship cohort in Nanyuki, said that they were selected after a rigorous vetting of over 900 applicants.
“We had received a lot of applications and the Committee did the shortlisting, interviews and home visits, to establish the need to sponsor them. We call upon other stakeholders, to come in and support. Government efforts alone is not enough,” said the CC.
Kanyiri pointed out that the scholarship, which is being undertaken in collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, was one of the government commitment in uplifting bright students from the underprivileged families.
“This is a government scholarship to support vulnerable families who are not able to cater for their children’s education needs in secondary schools. It is an Affirmative Action,” said Kanyiri.
In the Elimu scholarship programme, Kanyiri said that there were only 41 female and 35 male students who got the full sponsorship. Those who benefited had scored 280 marks and above in the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education(KCPE) exams results.
Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Laikipia County Coordinator, David Ndung’u, called on other well-wishers, to support bright and needy students expected to join form-one, Monday,next week.
“The selection of the beneficiary has been conducted in the most transparent and objective manner. Those who got are the well deserving cases, we did some home visit to authenticate the vulnerability need of the beneficiaries,” said Ndung’u.
Ms Samilah Hassan, one of the beneficiary who was selected to join Alliance Girl’s High School, lauded the Elimu scholarship programme, noting it would help her achieve the dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. She scored 365 marks in the 2023 KCPE at St. Moses Primary School in Nanyuki Township.
Ferix Mundia, also a beneficiary, said that he was optimistic that through Elimu scholarship, he would complete his secondary education studies and better his future.
