Pay us back with good marks, Kitui Elimu scholarship beneficiaries told

The 281 beneficiaries of Elimu Scholarship Programme in Kitui county have been asked to show appreciation by posting good KCSE results at the end of their secondary school education.

“Do not waste the government's money and the sacrifice your parents have made to see you through school. Do not engage in wayward behaviour that will see you fail in your exams,” Kitui county commissioner Erastus Mbui told the beneficiaries.

He was addressing 281 last year’s KCPE achievers who have been selected as beneficiaries of the Elimu Scholarship Programme managed by the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation on Wednesday.

The beneficiaries from needy families were selected from 2,800 applicants through rigorous vetting. They will join Form 1 next week.

The county commissioner said Elimu Scholarship Programme was a government scheme to enable children from poor background scale the education ladder.

“Once you join secondary schools, we expect you to keep off bad company and things like drug abuse. You must work hard in your studies and ultimately make your communities happy by posting good results,” Mbui said.

He reminded the students that by being given the education support they were being moulded to be useful citizens who would ultimately help their parents and communities at large.

“As you embark on your fully paid for secondary school education, do not lose sight of you poor family background. Your communities expect you to free them from the yoke of poverty,” Mbui said.

Kitui county director of education Khalif Issack said the needy learners who did not qualify for the Elimu Scholarship Programme could also benefit from NG-CDF and county government bursaries.

Issack said the government was keen to ensure 100 per cent transition to secondary schools for all learners who sat KCPE exam last year. 

An official of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Evelyn Kiswii, who coordinated the selection of the beneficiaries said besides giving learners education scholarship, the students are also mentored to become responsible citizens.

“We  have many activities with any sponsored child. We stand with them in every sense until they finish schooling. We attend to all their needs and any challenges including gender-based violence,” she said.