Pastor Ezekiel Odero of New Life Ministries has splashed more than Sh. 6.6 million in aid of 103 bright but needy students from Kilifi County joining high school.
The Man of God based in the Mavuoni area in Kilifi County also gave each student Sh. 15,000 meant for shopping as they joined their form one in their respective schools.
He was speaking at his church on Sunday afternoon during a prayer session for the students before they departed to school.
Pastor Ezekiel urged the students to work hard in their studies and use the knowledge gained in developing their country.
The man of God added that the Sh. 6,650,000 was one year’s school fees promising to pay the whole four-year school fees before April this year.
“This is Sh. 6,650,000 which is going to help our children’s education.
You are the future of this country and when you complete school and get jobs please do not export your expertise to foreign countries but we should build our own country,” he said.
The students were joined by their parents and one of the head teachers whose public primary school emerged top in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in the County.
Mrs Constance Dama recorded impressive results in her school where 99 candidates sat the examination.
Scholarship relief
At least 17 candidates scored 400 marks and above while the least performer scored 308 marks.
Mrs Dama at one point collapsed and was rushed to hospital when she heard that all her candidates, most of whom hail from poor backgrounds, had secured scholarships.
“This girl is the girl that performed well in her village and it pained me when she was struggling to get sponsorship.
It was a painful thing because parents were on my neck to help their children join high school yet I had knocked on all doors with no success,” she said.
She added that all her candidates had finally secured scholarships hence relieving her of the burden.
“I fainted because I was losing hope yet time was not on our side. I had knocked on many doors with little success but now I am the happiest woman on earth,” she added.
The Kilifi County Chief Officer for Education Mr Frederick Nguma thanked the pastor on behalf of the County government.
He said that New Life Ministries had done what other churches had never done before in the area.
“You have done what other churches have never done in the history of our region, we thank you so much,” he said.