ELDORET, Uasin Gishu County — The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Ababu Namwamba, praised the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation’s new initiative, the KCB Scholars Student-Athlete Scholarship Programme, during its launch in Eldoret. This program aligns with the Talanta Hela agenda, aiming to identify, nurture, and monetize talents in a structured manner. Namwamba affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Kenyan sportsmen, women, and artists under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), providing platforms for their development and contribution to the country’s growth.
According to Kenya News Agency, Creative Economy and Sports, the program awarded full scholarships to 50 talented student-athletes to pursue secondary education in Kenya, marking the beginning of the Foundation’s effort to nurture future world-class athletes from underprivileged backgrounds. Namwamba lauded the KCB Foundation for its long-standing support of sports in Kenya and its role in empowering the next generation of athletes by providing an environment conducive to academic and athletic growth.
The initiative is part of a broader government effort to leverage sports as a platform for youth empowerment and national development. Namwamba expressed confidence in the potential of Kenyan athletes and emphasized the importance of education as a great equalizer. He highlighted the government’s measures to provide better care for athletes, including opening 50 athletics centers across the country and upgrading sports facilities such as Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret and others.
The program also involves partnerships with Transcend Talent Academy and KIPRUN to offer training, mentorship, and high-performance skills to the scholarship beneficiaries. These efforts aim to address the lack of professional coaching and mentorship at the grassroots level, with plans to open 20 satellite academies in collaboration with the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) and Transcend Talent Academy.
KCB Bank Kenya’s Managing Director, Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai, stated that the 50 students, selected from 12 counties, will embark on a four-year journey with their academic and athletic pursuits fully supported. This initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to fostering young talent and promoting sporting excellence in Kenya.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii commended the KCB Foundation for its holistic approach to education, urging the students to maintain discipline and work hard towards achieving their dreams. The program promises a brighter future for young student-athletes, offering them the tools needed to excel in sports and life.