The Family Group Foundation, a Family Bank subsidiary, has spent Sh30 million to sponsor 110 needy students on their secondary education.
The 'Tufuzu na Elimu' scholarship programme will cover the students' secondary education for four years.
Foundation's board of trustees chairman Francis Muraya said over the years the foundation has spent over Sh150 million through the programme.
He spoke at the Kiambu government headquarters in Kiambu town on Monday during the flagging off of the initiative.
"Before we used to sponsor two students per county but this year, we decided to focus on giving scholarships to more students in fewer counties," Muraya said.
Ten students have been selected across Kiambu, Nyeri, Bungoma, Uasin Gishu, Mombasa, Makueni, Nakuru, Meru, Murang'a, Kajiado and Kisumu counties.
"We are happy to partner with the county governments to help out needy students get to school," Muraya said.
"You never know who the student we are sponsoring today will become. They can help out the community and other people in future," he added.
Muraya urged parents and guardians to support their children.
Governor James Nyoro who graced the occasion said the county government has continued to get partnerships with well wishers.
This, he said, will supplement the county bursary fund to ensure needy students in Kiambu do not miss out on education .
"Family Bank has made great contributions for needy students in Kiambu to get their education and probably achieve their ambitions in life," Nyoro said.
"We are grateful for the scholarship and the extension that the bank will give them attachments and possibly jobs when they are through with their education," he added.
Nyoro said the county government is also working with Family Bank on an agricultural programme so that young entrepreneurs can be supported in agribusiness.
He said the county government has written to school heads not to send away students who have been selected as beneficiaries of the county bursary fund.
The governor said the money is yet to be posted into county coffers by the Exchequer.
Kiambu Education executive Mary Kamau said the county bursary fund has risen from Sh100 million in the last financial year to Sh190 million this year.
"We have 36 students on full scholarship and we are looking forward to taking another 24 from the current bursary that will be disbursed," Kamau said.
She said they are set to reach out to 25,000 needy students at the secondary level, tertiary institutions and universities.
Titus Muya, the banks' founder, said through the institution's social arm, they decided to chip in and aid needy students in the country.
The bank is looking into giving more scholarships in the future.
"We are giving scholarships not for beneficiaries to be grateful to Family Bank but because we feel we have an obligation to give back to society and to take revenge in kind because we were also supported by somebody," Muya said.
Kiambu education director Victoria Mulili said the county had 42,462 students who sat for their KCPE exams, 21,354 were boys and 21,108 girls.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
