Mombasa: Kenya’s representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Suleiman Shahbal, has called on the national and county governments to revive the late former President Mwai Kibaki’s vision of free education and ensure no child is sent home from school due to unpaid fees.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the 2026 scholarship award ceremony organized by the Luo Professionals Welfare Association (LUP) at Tudor Pastoral Centre in Mvita Sub-County, Mombasa, Shahbal, who was the chief guest, donated Sh200,000 to support the association’s scholarship fund. He emphasized that education remains the greatest form of wealth an individual can acquire and reaffirmed his commitment to accessible education for all.
Shahbal stated, ‘This has nothing to do with politics. I am a firm believer in free education for everybody.’ He urged county governments to implement mechanisms to prevent students from being locked out of learning institutions over school fee arrears, viewing such barriers as a significant obstacle to national development.
He praised the Luo Professionals Welfare Association for awarding scholarships worth Sh1.18 million to 61 bright but needy students from the Luo community. Shahbal described the initiative as noble and encouraged other community-based professional groups to adopt similar programs. ‘You give nothing when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give,’ he said.
The EALA representative also highlighted the value of unity within the Luo community in Mombasa. He noted that similar efforts by other communities such as the Kamba, Mijikenda, and Bajuni would significantly advance education and social progress across the Coast region.
Sharing his vision for transforming Mombasa, Shahbal announced plans to sponsor students from each of the county’s six constituencies to pursue higher education locally and abroad. By selecting 20 students annually from every constituency, the program aims to produce more than 600 graduates within five years, equipping young professionals with new ideas and perspectives to drive change in the city.
‘These graduates would return with new ideas, a new vision, and a new way of looking at life. They would completely change Mombasa,’ Shahbal said.
LUP Chairman Pius Oketch expressed gratitude to Shahbal for his generous contribution and strong advocacy for education, stating that the support would significantly help vulnerable students complete their studies.
