When it looked all doom and gloom for needy students who lacked fees to further their education, the move by the government in collaboration with the Jomo Kenyatta foundation to offer a helping hand reignited their hope to realize their dream.
It was a relief for both the parents and the desperate student from Kiambu County who were staring at the possibility of shelving their education ambitions altogether after efforts to raise the required fees to secure their form one admissions failed.
Through the Elimu Scholarships program, the 60 needy students drawn from Thika, Ruiru, Juja and Gatundu Sub Counties received learning materials, other personal effects and transport monies ready to make their dreams come true.
Maina, a father of three from Gatundu North could not hide his joy after receiving an alert in his mobile phone that his first-born son had been considered for the full scholarship.
He said it has been a struggle educating his children and had almost given up on hopes that his son would join secondary school, as the reporting time continued to lapse.
“I have another child in junior secondary school and I could not afford to educate them. My hopes that my son could join Form One were slowly dimming as the deadline for reporting drew close. However, when I received the alert, I couldn’t believe it,” said Maina.
Pauline Wangari, another parent too, could not believe that her daughter would join Form One because what she had earned from her manual jobs was not enough to even pay fare for her daughter to travel to a Nyeri school that she had been admitted to.
“Life has become unbearable. We can’t afford meals, leave alone paying school fees. This is a miracle and I’m only thankful to the government and the foundation,” said Wangari.
Addressing the parents and students when giving the scholarships, the Sub County Education Director Morris Sifuna urged the students to utilize this great opportunity to change their lives and that of their parents by working hard to realize their dreams.
He appealed to other donors and well-wishers to chip in and assist needy students who are yet to receive a ray of hope in joining form one adding that his office has many applications that need urgent consideration.
Sifuna cautioned parents and the students that indiscipline and engagement into drugs and other vices will not be tolerated citing cases forwarded in his office over the same.
Jomo Kenyatta University representative Julius Thuku confirmed that the foundation has disbursed full scholarships for over 3,000 needy students countrywide.
He said they had 12,000 applications but only managed to support 3,000 hoping next year they will increase the number of beneficiaries to enable more students achieve their education dreams.
Thuku at the same time called on those who missed the scholarship to try other government support funds including the NG/CDF and bursaries.
He also called on other well-wishers to chip in to help the many other students who are yet to join Form one due to fees challenges.
By Muoki Charles
