Magoha launches scholarship program in Kiandutu slums
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Magoha on Monday launched Elimu Scholarship program in conjunction with Equity Bank at Kiandutu slums in Thika, Kiambu County.
The CS, who also visited impoverished Gachagi and Umoja slums within the Sub County, directed Kiambu Director of Education to ensure Form One admission letters reach all the deserving students before the end of the week.
The Elimu scholarship program is a Kenyan government run education scholarship funded by the World Bank through the Ministry of Education and the Equity Group Foundation.
The scholarship seeks to improve secondary education in Kenya and it takes care of school fees, transport and learning materials.
A total of 43 needy but bright applicants from the expansive Thika West Sub County were awarded the scholarship that will see them through the secondary education.
Speaking at Umoja village, Magoha who was accompanied by Ministry of education officials, officers from the interior ministry and Equity Bank officials emphasized that the fact the ministry has expanded the scholarship scope to the urban slums was due to the wisdom of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Originally, this scholarship was meant for only 110 sub counties but I have seen with my own eyes that there is even more need within the urban slums,” he said.
In 2019 the scholarship pooled over Sh20 billion which benefited 9,000 plus candidates who sat for KCPE.
In 2020, Magoha said the program is set to even take more students in.
