Kericho Governor Eric Mutai has urged investors to focus on developing education for bright children from poor backgrounds.
The new governor praised tea company James Finlays Kenya Ltd as an example of initiative and spending millions of shillings to educate poor children. He urged other major investors to follow suit.
Last Friday, Finlays Community Trust awarded Sh32.2 million scholarships to at least 30 students from Kericho and Bomet counties.
The scholarships cover prestigious master's and undergraduate degrees.
They were awarded at Exotic Hotel in Belgut constituency.
The ceremony was attended by trust secretary Sammy Kirui, Finlays MD Simon Hutchinson, human resource director Daniel Kirui and the company's technical director Wesley Bosuben.
The ceremony marked the Trust's first anniversary.
Gilbert Cheruiyot from Kericho is heading to the UK's University of Leicester to pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Mercy Cherono from Bomet will head to the UK's Napier University in Edinborough for a master's in International Tourism Destination Management.
At least 28 others will pursue undergraduate degrees at local universities. They are bright children from poor backgrounds; their parents work for James Finlays Kenya Ltd, mostly as tea pickers.
Mutai urged Ngeno and Cherono to return home after graduating and work in Kenya.
Trust secretary Kirui suggested they stay a little longer in the UK after graduating.
Community trust chairman Bishop Alfred Rotich of the Catholic Diocese in Kericho and Bomet counties said the trust had invested Sh10.7 million for master's degree students to study at any UK university of their choice.
In a press release, Rotich said Sh45 million had been set aside so 56 undergraduates could study at Kenyan universities.
Besides the scholarships, the Finlay Community Trust has also invested Sh251 million to establish schools, health facilities, energy and water infrastructure projects in the two counties.
(Edited by V. Graham)
