Stone-crushing student from Adu ward in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County who had failed to join high school due to lack of funds has finally landed a four-year scholarship.
Sera Kauchi, 16 years of age has been helping her mother Mrs Mariam Rodgers to crush stones for sale at Bandacho village in order to raise school fees to join Moi Girls high school Isinya.
Pastor Ezekiel of New Life ministries said that he will pay school fees for 103 needy students across the County for four years in high school.
“We want that, by Sunday all the 103 students will have reported to the school and I will avail buses to ferry them to their various schools in the country.
All their school fees will have been paid by that time after we get their full details,” he said.
The man of God added that he will also construct a modern house for Mrs Rodgers after her daughter narrated their home status.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro lauded the pastor for taking up the matter saying that no student within the county will fail to join high school.
“I am very firm in scrutinizing county resources so that we can enable our students to join high school and for Sera, I am going to personally sponsor her when she joins university after four years so that she can achieve her dream of being a surgeon,” he said.
He added that hundreds of students joining Form one had started benefiting from the Kilifi County Ward Scholarship Fund which was raised from Sh. 350 million to Sh. 1 billion in the supplementary budget.
Other Scholarships
Deputy Governor Florah Chibule said that as a county they will vet all students to ensure that every student gets a scholarship.
“We are going to synchronize our data with those of Members of the County Assembly (MCA).
The National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) bursary, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
And other sponsors to ensure that each student gets a scholarship,” she said.
She also advised parents to plan for their children and supplement the scholarships with smaller needs like pocket money and shopping.
Already each of the 35 wards in the County has received its first allocation of Sh. 7 million with the rest expected to be disbursed before May.
Sera thanked all who helped her and promised to work hard and achieve her dream of becoming a surgeon.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for education in the county Clara Chonga allayed fears that lack of school fees will force girls to engage in immoral activities and early marriages.
“There is no correlation between a girl failing to go to school and pregnancy and parents should take good care of their children,” she said.
Kibarani ward MCA Moses who is also the chairman of the Kilifi County Ward Scholarship Fund committee at the county assembly said that at least 717 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) who got 370 marks and above and have been called to join national high schools.
“It is a directive from the national government that there is 100 percent transition and those who excelled we will ensure they join high school while those who couldn’t make it we shall take them to our Vocational Technical Training Institutes,” he said.
IAN BYRON