Some 95 beneficiaries of the Elimu scholarship programme have been flagged off by the Vihiga County Commissioner in a colourful ceremony at the County headquarters.
Vihiga County Commissioner Peter Maina, who was speaking during the ceremony attended by education stakeholders in the region, disclosed that the 95 students joining senior secondary schools were selected to benefit from the programmes based on several parameters, including being bright and needy, physical disability, gender and vulnerability through orphanhood, among others, ensuring only the most deserving benefited while also considering the constitutional affirmative action.
Maina added that the scholarship covers fully paid school fees, pocket money, the students’ personal items and fare to and from school.
“The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation is the agency manning the scholarship on behalf of the Education Ministry,” Maina said.
He further wished the students all the best in their studies and encouraged them to work hard and maintain good academic performance.
Vihiga County Director of Education Joyce Chesang urged the parents to support their children for better education through guidance and counselling where possible, saying the students are still young and need to be guided.
She advised parents not to squander the upkeep money allocated to their children.
The scholarship beneficiaries were provided with physical school requirements, including mattresses, blankets and metallic boxes for use when in school.
By Florence Oteng’o and Maureen Imbayi
