118 needy university students given scholarships in Murang'a

About 118 university students from vulnerable families in Murang’a county have been given scholarships.

The students received the scholarships as confusion shrouds the new university funding model, leaving many students in limbo.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the programme would help relieve the burden of fees for disadvantaged parents and allow their children to complete their education without financial hiccups.

“My plea is to the beneficiaries to work hard and look for volunteer opportunities related to their career paths so they can acquire experience, especially during holidays,” he said.

The scholarship programme is being implemented by the county government in partnership with professionals under the Murang’a Budget and Economic Council.

Council members gave personal donations to the programme, which targeted orphans, persons with disabilities and those in extreme need.

Beneficiaries were required to be Murang’a residents and to have qualified for a university degree in a local public university.

Fruits processing company Kakuzi Ltd also donated Sh2 million to the programme.

Kang'ata appealed to the national government to streamline the university funding model to make it easier for more learners to join universities.

“It's very painful to see in the media bright children from poor backgrounds unable to pursue university education. When a young person gets educated, they impact the society positively,” the governor said.

He said the university students formed part of the 4,500 learners issued with Sh52 million in bursaries and scholarships at Mumbi grounds on Saturday.

Equity Bank founder Peter Munga, who chairs the council, said it takes education seriously as it understands the potential it has to transform the society.

Murang’a, he said, was the first area to produce a university graduate, Dr Gikonyo Kiano, who was supported by community members through fundraisings to study at Sanford University.

Munga said the council has approached multi-national companies to support the programme as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

“This is one of the main ways we can support vulnerable families. We all know the set of challenges they go through,” he said.

Kakuzi head of corporate affairs Simon Odhiambo said as part of its pre-university internship programme, it will provide 20 leadership development slots to students drawn from the county annually starting next year.

“We will provide fully paid pre-university internships that can help prepare the best students for job opportunities while preparing them for their university studies,” he said.

He cited finance, legal, agronomy, human resource management, agricultural engineering, marketing and communications courses.

Simon Irungu, one of the beneficiaries and an orphan, moved many to tears when he narrated the struggles he has undergone in his pursuit of education.

His mother died when he was two and his father when he was 11, and he was put under the care of his grandparents, who struggled to pay for his education.

“I scored a B plain in KCSE and have been enrolled at Murang’a University of Technology, where I will undertake IT engineering, but I could not raise accommodation fee and pocket money, so I went back home,” Irungu said.

“Even raising bus fare to this event was a struggle. Our neighbours lent me the money.” 

The economic council advises Kang’ata on financial matters. It comprises top business people and professionals in the country.

They include businessman Jimnah Mbaru, Royal Media Services owner SK Macharia, former Kenyatta University vice chancellor Olive Mugenda and former Roads PS John Mosonik.

Others are South Eastern Kenya University deputy vice chancellor Zipporah Ng’ang’a, Kenya Healthcare Federation chairperson Kanyenje Gakombe, Equity Group Board chairperson Macharia Muthuure, former Kenya Ambassador to China Mary Muthoni, Dr Salome Gitoho and Dr Felistus Njuguna.