CS Ogamba officially launches Inuka scholarship, urges more support for inclusive education

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has called on other public and private stakeholders to partner with the government in advancing inclusive education for all, especially children living with disabilities.

Speaking at the official launch of the Inuka scholarship programme, an initiative of the Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) Foundation, Ogamba praised the initiative for its commitment to empowering marginalised learners.

"I commend the KPC Foundation for its dedication to supporting students with disabilities through education. The Inuka scholarship programme has demonstrated that investing in skills development for these groups paves the way for meaningful, dignified lives," said the CS.

The initiative, now in its eighth year, has so far supported 745 students across all 47 counties by providing tuition, uniforms, and assistive devices.

The recent expansion of the programme to include tertiary education is expected to boost the number of beneficiaries significantly.

Ogamba noted that the initiative aligns well with the ministry's "Leave No One Behind" mantra and existing efforts like the Elimu Scholarship programme, which has reached over 52,000 vulnerable students.

He acknowledged that inclusive education remains a challenge, citing the 2018 national survey, which revealed that 11.4 per cent of Kenyan children aged three to 21 live with disabilities, many of whom face barriers to accessing quality education.

This translates to 2,489,252 children.

The survey, he pointed out, identified several challenges faced by children with disabilities in their education journey.

These include lack of accessible infrastructure, inadequate teacher training, and negative attitudes towards children with disabilities.

According to the CS, these challenges have resulted in low enrollment rates and high dropout rates among these vulnerable groups.

Despite these hurdles, the CS stated that the government has made strides under President William Ruto’s leadership.

He noted that programmes like Free Primary and Free Day Secondary Education, as well as policy commitments to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and SDG 4, are driving improvements in enrollment and access.

"Inclusive education is not just a policy; it is a necessity. The Inuka Programme is giving children hope and helping to reshape societal attitudes about disability," Ogamba said.

As Kenya prepares to transition its first Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) cohort to Grade 10 in 2026, Ogamba emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi who was also present during the event, hailed KPC for the initiative.

He acknowledged the crucial role that State corporations play in national development.

"KPC has demonstrated that when a state agency is well governed, it can transform lives," he said.

"We take pride in KPC efforts beyond the petroleum sector."

Others present were KPC managing director Joe Sang, nominated senator Crystal Asige and other senior officials from KPC.