Murang’a: A total of 127 needy but bright learners from Murang’a County have received a major boost after being awarded the Elimu Scholarship, enabling them to join Grade 10 in various senior schools. The beneficiaries, who include 60 boys and 67 girls, were selected from more than 4,000 applicants who applied for the highly competitive scholarship. The programme targets learners from vulnerable backgrounds who have performed well academically but face the risk of dropping out of school due to lack of school fees.
According to Kenya News Agency, Murang’a County Director of Education Phillip Wambua stated that the Elimu Scholarship will fully cater for the students’ education costs, covering full school fees, personal items such as uniforms and learning materials, as well as transport fare to their respective schools of admission. Speaking during the event held at Murang’a Technology primary school, Wambua emphasized that the support is expected to ease the burden on parents and guardians, many of whom struggle to make ends meet.
He confirmed that the selection process of the 127 beneficiaries was thorough, fair, and transparent. The Director said the large number of applicants showed the high demand for the scholarship and the financial challenges facing many families. He explained that the selection involved various education stakeholders to ensure fairness and accountability, including education officers, teachers, community leaders, the clergy, and government administration officers.
To further verify the applicants’ level of need, sub-county committees were formed and tasked with visiting the homes of the shortlisted learners. This was done to avoid cases where undeserving candidates benefit at the expense of the needy. The Director urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously and remain focused on their studies, warning that the scholarship is not a lifetime guarantee and can be withdrawn if beneficiaries engage in indiscipline or fail to meet the expected academic standards.
On his part, the Elimu Scholarship County Coordinator, Julius Thuku, noted that the selected learners genuinely deserved the support. He highlighted that many of them came from extremely poor backgrounds and would not have been able to proceed to senior school without the scholarship. Thuku also revealed that the Elimu Scholarship programme will support up to 10,000 students countrywide this year, in addition to sponsoring learners currently in Form Three and Form Four.
Parents of the beneficiaries expressed hope that the scholarship will not only transform the lives of their children but also contribute to improved education outcomes in the county and beyond. For many of the beneficiaries, the Elimu Scholarship marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with promise, opportunity, and renewed determination to succeed.
One of the beneficiaries, Bancy Maina, who scored 67 points in the KJSEA, will be joining Mugoiri Girls High School, which is under category C1. She lauded the government for the programme, saying it will significantly help bright learners from poor families who cannot afford fees for senior schools.
