The Kiambu county government, through the Directorate of Social Services, has partnered with the Family Bank Foundation ensure accurate identification of learners from vulnerable households for scholarship opportunities.
The scholarships are being offered under a Family Bank Foundation national education program targeting 300 learners across the country.
As part of this nationwide initiative, the county was allocated five slots, all of which have been filled following a structured identification and verification process coordinated by the Directorate of Social Services.
Identification of potential beneficiaries begins at the sub-county level, where Social Services officers work closely with local administrators and community structures like chiefs and Nyumba kumi leaders to identify learners facing social and economic challenges that threaten their ability to remain in school. Shortlisted candidates were then subjected to a detailed verification process through home visits.
The recent assessment exercise was conducted in Kiambaa, Juja and Gatundu North sub-counties by a multi-sectoral team comprising officers from the county Directorate of Social Services and the Department of Gender and Social Services, operating under the Office of the Chief Officer for Gender and Social Services, Emily Nkoroi, alongside representatives from the Family Bank Foundation.
The team assessed household living conditions, sources of income and overall welfare to ensure the support reaches the most deserving learners.
County officials noted that the partnership underscores the importance of collaboration between county governments and private sector institutions in strengthening social protection and expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged learners.
The initiative aligns with the national government’s education and social protection priorities, including the Social Protection Policy and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which emphasize investment in human capital as a driver of inclusive growth.
By targeting learners from vulnerable households, the program complements national efforts to improve access to education, enhance retention and completion rates, and reduce inequality, while contributing to the long-term goal of breaking generational cycles of poverty through education.
By Grace Naishoo
