A total of 58 bright and needy students in Laikipia County have benefited from the Elimu Scholarship, which will support their transition to Grade 10.
The scholarship, administered by the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) under the Ministry of Education, is expected to cover tuition fees, pocket money, and other basic necessities for the three-year duration of senior secondary education.
Speaking during the official launch of the scholarship in Nanyuki town on Wednesday, the selection committee, led by Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli, said that over a thousand learners had applied, but only a few qualified due to the limited number of available slots.
“Even though the government has taken over the payment of school fees, parents need to be responsible. If there are small levies in school, kindly take action and pay,” said Muli.
He further urged that the number of scholarships in Laikipia East be increased, noting that many applicants come from informal settlements such as Likii and Majengo.
“We need to expand scholarship opportunities in Laikipia East because there are slums and a lot of people in need. For the residents of Majengo and Likii informal settlements, no one should be left behind,” Muli said.
JKF Laikipia County coordinator Patrick Wakaya cautioned that learners who fail academically or engage in indiscipline would have their scholarships withdrawn.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support and pledged to excel in their studies while fostering positive change in their communities. Parents were urged to actively support their children’s learning to motivate them to achieve their academic goals.
About 10,000 learners nationwide have received the JKF scholarship. The beneficiaries in Laikipia are among 1.13 million candidates who sat the inaugural Kenya Junior Secondary Examination Assessment (KJSEA) and are now transitioning to senior schools under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. Grade 10 admissions began on Monday.
By Muturi Mwangi
