Nyamira County government has awarded full scholarships for secondary education to 250 bright but needy students.
The learners, who will be joining Form One will have their fees for the four years fully paid by the county government under the governor's scholarship kitty, which is part of the Nyamira County Education Support Fund that was founded about four years ago.
Other beneficiaries will get support from the fund under the County Education Bursary, which Governor Amos Nyaribo said will be partial funding of school fees to the most deserving learners who were not awarded scholarships.
Beneficiaries were students who scored over 300 marks and over 250 marks for children with disabilities.
"We are moved by the overwhelming cases of need witnessed while looking for the beneficiaries. Others who have not been awarded full scholarship will be given special consideration in the bursary scheme, and they will receive some partial funding," Nyaribo said.
The governor was speaking at Uhuru Gardens in Nyamira, where he saw off the learners to their various learning institutions.
The scholarship, which is enshrined in the Nyamira County Education Support Fund Act, caters for full school fees for four years, initial shopping and uniforms.
During the commissioning, all the 250 students were given boxes; Sh12,000 for uniform and Sh2,000 for pocket money.
However, even as the 250 students were flagged off to go to various secondary schools where they were admitted, Nyamira Assembly Education Committee Chairman Samuel Ogeto decried the high rate of poverty in the county, which he said had affected many learners who risk not joining choice secondary schools.
"Even as we commission these beneficiaries, I am so much touched by the many others who were not lucky enough to join this scholarship programme. We should do something as a cCountry to ensure they too don't remain disadvantaged. We can squeeze some more to ensure they are helped," Ogeto said.
Gesima Ward Rep Nyameino Atuti, who was among the pioneer MCAs who created the Fund in the first Assembly, said the county government should amend the Act to allow for accommodation of some learners who are not covered in the by-laws.
"There seems to be some discrimination which bars some kids from benefiting. This needs to be revised to widen the window of beneficiaries," Nyameino said.
