Kajiado's scholarship scheme bears fruits as 500 students complete studies

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku shares a light moment with some of the 500 graduates sponsored by the county government four years ago across the 25 wards. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

Kajiado County's full Scholarship scheme has churned out its first cohort of 500 graduates sponsored four years ago across the 25 wards.

Some 300 of the beneficiaries have completed secondary school and are awaiting KCSE results after their fees were paid for four years.

Another 200 beneficiaries have graduated with various diplomas and degree courses mostly in agriculture, ICT, medical and water fields.

Presiding over the passing out ceremony of the beneficiaries, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku who initiated the scheme in 2019 said the sponsored courses were the ones found to have opportunities in the prevailing economic situation.

" We are grappling with a shortage of nurses, clinical officers and other specialities in the health sector. We also lack trained personnel in water, agriculture and livestock sectors as well as ICT. We are planning on how to create manpower that can be absorbed in the job market either in the public or private sectors," said Governor Lenku.

The Governor reiterated his commitment to upgrade those who did Diploma courses to do degrees.

"Investing in human capital is one of our transformative agenda. We decided to fill the gaps we are experiencing in the job market. I'm glad our mission to create the next generation of leaders has kicked off and is on an upward trajectory," he said.

Governor Lenku said the scheme has been distributed equitably among all wards and across the ethnic backgrounds of Kajiado residents as the County stood to benefit heavily from the diversity of its inhabitants.

The selection of the second cohort of the scholarship scheme is underway with a further 500 beneficiaries set for shortlisting in a fortnight.

The scholarship scheme is one of Governor Lenku's legacy programs and has seen its budget allocation highly supported by the County Assembly to rise from Sh40 million five years ago to Sh150 million this year.

Senator Samuel Seki who laid the foundation of the scheme when he served as the Education Executive lauded the programme as the next frontier of economic empowerment among the local community.

"We have lagged as a community because others embraced education faster than us.