Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero disbursed Sh24 million worth of scholarship to a total of 300 needy students. Photo courtesy of The Standard.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero disbursed Sh24 million worth of scholarship to a total of 300 needy students. Photo courtesy of The Standard.

By Sylvester Makato

Nairobi County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero has disbursed sponsorship amounting to sh24 million to three hundred pupils who are academically endowed and who come from needy families within the county. The deserving pupils from the 85 wards in the Nairobi County will now have a chance to stay in school and ensure their dream to become educated people in the society is achieved. In addition, the sponsorship will cater for tuition fee until the beneficiaries complete their secondary education level.

This sponsorship which started in the year 2014, is a complimentary to the bursary initiative undertaken by Members of County Assembly at Ward levels. Speaking during the disbursement at City Hall, Governor Kidero noted that the move was a radical change from the existing bursary allocation plans where a child received only sh5000 which could not sustain them.

“When you educate a child you empower a whole nation,” said Governor Evans Kidero.

Emily Onyango, a mother of three children who was one of the beneficiary applauded the project saying many needy parents who had no power to ensure they children complete education now had  peace of mind.

“Nimefurahi sana, mimi nina watoto wawili secondary na kulipa karo kwao ni ngumu, hii mchango umenisaidia sasa nitakuwa natufuta karo ya mmoja,” (I am very happy since I have two children in secondary school and paying fees for both is difficult. This contribution has gone a long way and now I just need to look for school fees for one of them), said Emily.

In addition, she called upon other counties to ensure deserving children get full sponsorship to complete their education.

For now it remains to be seen if other counties will emulate Nairobi County example and ensure bright students stay in school. Some have been getting it through CDF while some counties have also come up with scholarship for students. However, what all counties need to ensure is that there is transparency in the process of selecting the needy students so that only deserving students are assisted to attain education.