THE Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Foundation officially unveils its ambitious scholarship programme, dubbed ‘Inuka’.
The initiative aims to support secondary and tertiary scholarships for students with disabilities.
The transformative programme, initiated back in 2017, targets two students per county from across the 47 counties.
With Sh120 million having been spent so far, Inuka has been a lifeline, offering many scholarships to bright but disadvantaged students.
KPC managing director Joe Sang’ said 745 students have benefitted through the Foundation.
“This programme is not just about education; it’s about dignity, empowerment and breaking barriers. It covers tuition, uniforms, assistive devices and essential school needs,” he said.
“Recently, Inuka was expanded to include tertiary scholarships, empowering students to pursue higher education and self-reliance.”
Commenting on the programme’s impact, the managing director notes that last year alone, nearly half the students on the programme attained university entry grades.
“This is not just a statistic. It is a testament to the resilience of these children and the transformative power of education,” he said.
“We are very proud of our students who scored As, such as Levy Kabesa, Monica Isabwa and Allan Kwambai just to name a few, who are now in university pursuing courses towards their dream careers.”
Building on its success, Sang’ announced the commencement of the annual mentorship programme for Inuka scholars.
The initiative, he said, will provide guidance, life skills and career preparation for more than 370 students.
It is about equipping these young minds not only to succeed academically but also to lead fulfilling lives, he said.
Sharing a remarkable success story of the programme, the MD cited Caroline Mwangi from Nyeri county.
A determined young girl with albinism, Wanjugu overcame numerous challenges and misconceptions to score 397 marks in her primary school exams, securing a spot at Mahiga Girls’ Secondary School.
With Inuka’s support, she excelled further, earning an A- in her KCSE exams.
Inspired by figures like Judge Mumbi Ngugi, Wanjugu is now on the path to realising her dream of becoming a lawyer “Her story reminds us that every child deserves a chance to shine, just as she has,” Sang’ stated.
“Caroline embodies the spirit of Inuka, turning adversity into triumph and lighting the way for others to follow.”
To extend its support beyond secondary education, the KPC Foundation scaled Inuka to include tertiary scholarships last year. It is specifically designed to help students advance their education in universities and TVET institutions.
The top-performing students from the high school cohort transition to the tertiary institutions they have been admitted to.
The first tertiary cohort joined various institutions of higher learning, and the students are pursuing various courses in fields such as medicine, education and pharmacy.
The tertiary scholarship covers full tuition fees, meals, accommodation, assistive devices, mentorship, psychosocial support and leadership development.
“Our motivation to start this new programme was to bridge the gap and ensure that students who complete high school can transition smoothly to higher education,” Sang’ said.
He added that the initiative aims to offer a holistic approach to support students, addressing not only educational needs but also personal and professional growth.
Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiaries will also get an opportunity to participate in KPC’s internship opportunities and in the competitive recruitment process in the company, he said.
They will be reaching out to other corporate bodies to help in supporting the programme, Sang' said.
Apart from education, the KPC Foundation is also involved in various thematic pillars such as health, water, environment, empowerment and livelihoods.
Thus far, the Foundation has managed to invest in 377 projects, reached more than 58,000 beneficiaries through investments valued at more than Sh780 million across the country.
