Lodwar: Two bright but needy students from Turkana County have secured the coveted Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation full scholarship to pursue their academic dreams. The duo from Nayuu and Nakuluja villages in Turkana Central Sub-County will now proceed with schooling after the Foundation stepped in to award them full scholarships, after it emerged that their families could not raise funds for the required fees and other necessities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the two boys had initially secured Grade 10 admission to Butere Boys High School and Ambira Boys High School respectively, but were unable to report on time. Lodwar KCB Branch Manager Humphrey Chemiat said the selection process was guided by household income levels, academic performance, and family circumstances. He explained that the KCB Foundation had reserved two slots for Turkana through the Lodwar KCB Branch, ensuring an inclusive scholarship award process with consultations from county leadership while adhering to selection criteria.
Chemiat added that the Foundation, the social investment arm of KCB Group PLC, remains committed to transforming lives and nurturing talent across the country, including in marginalized regions such as Turkana. The two awardees bring the total number of KCB Foundation beneficiaries for local Grade 10 to 17 in the current year. The manager clarified that the distribution of chances intentionally included teen mothers, learners living with disabilities, and those from financially vulnerable families.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor during the event, Turkana County Executive Committee Member for Education, Sports, and Social Protection, Dr. Audan Leah Lokaala, lauded the foundation for supporting bright learners from financially vulnerable backgrounds. Dr. Lokaala stated that apart from the current beneficiaries, the KCB Foundation has sponsored learners from Turkana to various levels of education before, appreciating partners committed to unlocking the potential of the young population.
The CECM further clarified that Turkana was among the less than 20 devolved units that had signed all necessary documentation to allow the counties to disburse bursary and scholarship funds at the county level. Dr. Lokaala assured residents that the county leadership is working towards ensuring bursary and scholarship funds are distributed to deserving cases, expressing hope for a positive outcome from the efforts.
Additionally, Lokaala appealed to organizations supporting education to emulate the KCB Foundation by partnering with the department of education. She emphasized the county government's awareness of learners yet to return to school or transition to senior secondary due to lack of funds, welcoming other partners to provide assistance as the county works on unlocking bursary and scholarship funds from the national government.
At the national level, KCB Foundation unveiled up to 1,000 scholarship awardees, pledging up to Sh600 million to cater for school fees, stipends, uniforms, talent development, and other basic requirements for sponsored learners. The unveiling platforms also served as forums for imparting life skills and encouraging beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined as they transition to the next level of education. Chief Officer for Vocational Training and Sports Robert Loyelei, his ECDE and Social Protection counterpart, Paul Lodunga, and directors from the department attended the function. Patrick Esekon Kono, a KCB staff in charge of mentoring the beneficiaries, was also present.