Over 200 students in Makueni County have been mentored into becoming competent and responsible leaders with respect to society values through the Elimu Scholarship Programme (ESP) under the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF).
Among the students who went through the three days mentorship included 110 girls and 100 boys, to enable them access comprehensive secondary and senior schools respectively.
The Programme Themed: ‘From Potential To Purpose; Inspiring Excellence, Leadership and Impact,’ targets bright children from extreme poverty, those with special needs, and marginalized communities.
They are provided with school fees, shopping kits, transport, pocket money, uniforms besides offering mentorship and psychological support.
“Through the mentorship, the students mentored on character development, career goals, goal setting and transitioning to tertiary institutions besides imparting them with knowledge to make them have good values and gain confidence to be respectable leaders in society,” said JKF Manager Internal Audit and Risk Management Pius Mwanzia Kyambi during the mentorship at Makueni Boys High School Wote town in Makueni Subcounty on Thursday.
“Also, through the programme the government intends to address lack of relevant market capabilities, by ensuring the students acquire skills and competencies needed in the labour market,” added Kyambi, who is also the Coordinator of the programme in the County.
While urging the students to be focused in their studies so as to realise their full potential, Kyambi observed that they are also being prepared to face the new environment once they join universities for higher learning in the country.
The Programme that was initiated in 2023, is currently supporting over 24,000 students. It is funded by the World Bank among other institutions.
The Makueni Sub-county Director of Education, Richard Ng’ang’a, challenged the students to be disciplined and be good ambassadors in the society, as they focus on their education.
While asking them to work closely with parents, guardians and teachers, Ng’ang’a further told them to work hard, so as to realise their full potential in a bid to achieve in their performance in the 2026 examinations.
“I urge the beneficiaries to be disciplined in view that their potential and vision is fully realised in the performance in the national examinations in 2026,” said Ng’ang’a, Thursday, while closing the three-days training.
By Patrick Nyakundi
