A total of 825 needy students from Murang’a County have had their hope of continuing with education reignited after being awarded bursaries.
Murang’a Women Representative Betty Maina, through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) kitty, distributed bursaries worth Sh6.4 million.
The students, drawn from vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds who would otherwise have challenges paying school fees, will have their secondary and tertiary education sponsored.
Speaking at Kimorori grounds, Kenol Monday, the Women Representative, observed that her office is committed to ensuring that all students from underprivileged backgrounds have an equal chance to education as those from rich family backgrounds.
“Today, 825 students in colleges, tertiary institutions, and secondary schools, including those living with disabilities, receive a total of Sh 6.4 million to cater to their studies,” she said.
She added, “Education is the key that will help them unlock all the doors of opportunities available to them because education is the only equaliser.”.
She further advised students to work hard in their studies and shun all forms of antisocial behaviours that will affect their future but instead follow advise from their parents, the government, and other well-wishers who are committed to seeing them get an equal chance to education.
“Do not get into alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse, as that will derail your intention to transform your life and that of your family,” she urged.
One of the beneficiaries, 21-year-old Hiram Macharia from Maragua, was full of joy as he received his cheque worth Sh30,000 to cater for his second semester studies at Thika Technical Training College.
He finished his Form 4 in 2022, and despite scoring a mean grade of C+ from a local day secondary school, his grandfather, who is his sole guardian, was not able to support him to get into university to pursue his dreams.
“All hope lost, I joined my grandfather in carrying out manual jobs for survival, including burning charcoal for sale for one year, until someone told me of the existence of the NGAAF fund.
Macharia approached the office of the women representative, narrated his story, and was enrolled as one of the beneficiaries to get full sponsorship throughout his tertiary education and is currently pursuing a diploma in Computer science.
“Were it not for the office of the women rep, I would still be at home doing manual jobs and probably wasting my life away in drugs or even alcohol,” he says, a glimmer of hope shining through his eyes.
Ms. Hannah Wairimu Kamau, yet another beneficiary, applauded the initiative, noting that her child was able to remain in school despite the harsh economic times.
“My child is in Maragua Ridge secondary school and has benefitted through the bursaries after I was unable to pay her school fees at Kigumo Girls High School,” she said.
She continued, “I am a widow who does odd jobs to sustain my four kids, and it is no walk in the park, but now I am grateful that my second-born child, who is always top of her class academically, will now be able to go on with her studies and realise her dreams.”
Wairimu underscores the need for the government to continue supporting the education sector so that children from underprivileged backgrounds can get an equal chance to education and a chance to pursue their ambitions for better societies.
By Florence Kinyua