Eighty-four students from Kitui will have their full secondary school fees paid through the county's National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
The Sh3.8 million full sponsorships were granted to children from poor families who scored high marks in the 2020 KCPE examination.
Most of them would have been unable to join secondary school because of poverty. If they did join, it would have been difficult for them to stay in school.
The beneficiaries received sponsorship award letters from Woman Rep Irene Kasalu during a ceremony in Kitui last Saturday.
A statement from the MP's office said the fund has supported 450 Kitui youth with bursaries. Among them were students who had dropped out of school or were unable to further their education due to fees challenges.
Some 50 girls who had dropped out becaue of early pregnancies were helped back to school or college.
The fund also supported 100 students who sat the KCSE exams in 2019 to further their education. Some were enrolled in teachers' colleges and other diploma courses. The teachers have already graduated.
The MP said her agenda was to ensure through her support Kitui would have many professionals.
“I feel sick when I see bright children failing to proceed with their studies because of poverty and inability to raise school fees. I have an agenda to see these great minds who would have missed the opportunity to further their education pursue their dream and become dependable professionals,” Kasalu said.
She said that it was unfair to see poor but bright children fizzle out to nothingness due to the failure to realise their dream.
Kasalu added that she had identified education bursaries as her legacy agenda.
The Woman Rep told the full scholarship beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and shun wayward habits that would disrupt learning.
