A Kericho based multinational tea company has awarded 28 bright but needy university-bound students scholarships worth Sh 22 million.
Browns Plantations Kenya Limited, through the Browns and Finlays Community Trust awarded the beneficiaries comprehensive tuition support to cover their undergraduate degree programs at recognized Kenyan universities.
The 2026 scholarship program saw 22 beneficiaries selected as the top performing boy and girl from each of the 11 constituencies across Kericho and Bomet counties based on academic performance and verified financial need, while six scholarships were awarded to dependants of Browns Plantations Kenya and Finlays employees.
The scholarship package covers comprehensive tuition fees throughout the beneficiaries’ undergraduate studies, with each student also receiving a laptop to support online learning, academic research, coursework and access to digital resources.
Speaking at a Kericho hotel during the scholarship presentation ceremony on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dushanth Ratwatte, who is also the Trust’s patron, Browns Plantations Kenya Limited Finance Director, Darren Edwards, said the scholarship program represented a strategic investment in the future leaders, innovators and workforce of the communities they serve.
“When a young person from Kericho and Bomet completes their higher education and enters the professional economy, they transform the economy trajectory of an entire household of generations to come. That long-term community transformation is the true return on investments for our sponsors.” said the Finance Director.
He said securing university admission should not mark the end of support for students, but rather the beginning of their journey.
The Company’s Finance Director noted that real success in today’s economy requires students to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to compete on an equal footing with their peers globally.
“As Kenya reforms its higher education financing framework, practical obstacles, especially digital exclusion, still prevent brilliant students from vulnerable households from achieving their full potential. That is why Browns Plantations Kenya, in partnership with Finlays have structured this Sh 22 million commitment to cover comprehensive tuition alongside a dedicated personal laptop for every scholar. We are deliberately removing both the financial burden and the technological barriers so our scholars can fully participate in research, virtual learning and coursework from day one.” noted Edwards.
Tophill Brain and Spine Hospital founder and consultant neurosurgeon who was the Chief Guest, Dr. Florentius Koech, challenged the students to remain disciplines and make the most of the opportunity.
Drawing from his own journey from a rural primary school in Cheborgei, Bureti Sub-county, Kericho to medical institutions locally and internationally, Dr. Koech said education remains a powerful tool for transforming lives.
“Education is the key to everything. Parents, please give your children education because it will open doors for them. Education will open doors. Despite the different training opportunities I have had, I have never forgotten my background. I have travelled to many countries and studied extensively. I studied in Japan for more than two years, and in Australia for more than five years, I have also been to the UK and the United States. Despite all these opportunities and achievements, I have never forgotten where I come from.”
“When we are growing-up, we never ate to our fill. Life was tough. So, when I remember my past, I know what some of you have gone through. Despite the poverty we experienced, my mother would always tell us, it will be better tomorrow.” said Dr. Koech.
Dr. Koech cautioned young people against relying on social media to solve their everyday challenges, saying such a mindset was contributing to the struggles they face.
“Young people need to develop strong mindsets. Successful innovators such as Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have strong mindsets. Social media is derailing many young people in universities. Spare sometime in the morning to think about the day ahead instead of rushing to your phone or laptop. Have clarity about how you want your day to be, and you will grow mentally stronger and better equipped to overcome everyday challenges.” said Dr. Koech.
He commended the company for the scholarship program saying it would transform not only the beneficiaries’ lives but also those of their communities, while urging the students to remain focused in their studies.
Among the beneficiaries, Rukia Hassan who scored an ‘A’ grade in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and is set to join the University of Nairobi to pursue Medicine.
She thanked the Company for the support, promising to work hard and make the most of the opportunity.
In July this year, the Trust awarded Sh 8.3 million in vocational scholarships to 39 trainees to pursue Technical and Vocational Training Education (TVET) at Belgut and Konoin Technical Training Institutes.
The Company also presented six graduates from its inaugural 2024 cohort with trade-specific start-up toolkits worth up to Sh 50,000 each to help them transition into self-employment after completing their training.
Beyond scholarships, Browns Plantations Kenya Limited has invested more than Sh 350 million in 81 education infrastructure projects across Kericho and Bomet counties.
The projects include classrooms, science laboratories, libraries, dormitories and dining halls, as part of a broader community investment program focused on education, technical skills and youth opportunities.
Browns Plantations Kenya Limited is a leading producer and exporter of tea and timber with operations in Kericho and Bomet counties. The company manages more than 5,000 hectares of tea and over 2,000 hectares of forestry, supported by four tea factories, nine estates and a saw mill and extensive forestry operations.
It is co-owned by the local community which holds a 15 per cent stake through the Kipsigis Highlands Multipurpose Co-operative Society.
By Sarah Njagi
