“I would like to echo the words of former South African president late Nelson Mandela who said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Ndeti said.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
Forty bright but needy children from Machakos County who sat and excelled in their 2023 KCPE examinations are set to join form one in their respective schools they had been called.
This is after Governor Wavinya Ndeti offered them full scholarships that will see them go through their secondary education.
Each of the children will benefit from the initiative dubbed ‘Machakos County Scholarship program’ starting this year to 2027 when they will set their KCSE examinations.
They were among those whose plights were highlighted in sections of the media after they publicly cried for fear of losing their chances in form one due to lack of school fees owing to their humble backgrounds.
Ndeti said each of the beneficiaries came from a ward in the entire county. There are forty wards in Machakos County.
“I’m excited today as I preside over this occasion of launching full scholarship for our young boys and girls who are set to begin their high school journey,” Ndeti said.
She spoke during the launch at her Whitehouse office in Machakos on Thursday.
“I would like to echo the words of former South African president late Nelson Mandela who said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti said thousands of bright but needy orphaned children in the society have over the years missed opportunities to pursue their academic goals due to a lack of necessary resources.
She said since she took the oath of office, she had committed to ensure that her administration empowers young people to pursue their dreams in education.
“In the last year, we have joined hands with stakeholders in the education sector through our bursary program. My government distributed Sh80 million last year and we are currently disbursing Sh120 million in this financial year in 40 wards,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti said they had received overwhelming feedback from the wards on how the support had cushioned hundreds of parents from harsh economic times.
She said her government had created a new program that would empower bright but needy students to stay in school for the next four years.
“Through Machakos County Scholarship drive, we are offering full scholarships to 40 academically outstanding but vulnerable students from each ward. This scholarship will cater for school fees only for four academic years in school,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti said the beneficiaries were vetted and identified by various ward scholarship committees since she believes in fairness.
She said the scholarship will be pegged on performance and high standards of discipline.
“Now I’m your second mother. If you do anything wrong in school, the teachers will call me directly. Indiscipline and poor performance will lead to disciplinary action,” Ndeti said.
Ndeti told parents and guardians of the beneficiaries to encourage them to remain focused.
Meanwhile, as these 40 children get reprieved, three others who had earlier expressed their fears of failing to join Machakos School for lack of school fees are still at home.
The trio, twins Robert Dusenge and Lambert Dusenge alongside Elijah Wambua all from Mlolongo, Mavoko subcounty were called to the national school after scoring 397 and 388 marks in 2023 KCPE respectively.
Wambua managed 270 marks at Mlolongo primary school while the twins sat their exams at Springs of Life Academy in Mlolongo.
They are still calling out for help.