Fifty five students from economically disadvantaged households in Kajiado County have received scholarships worth Sh50,000 each annually to help them access and complete university, college and technical training.
The scholarships, awarded through the Kipeto Community Development Trust (KCDT), target financial barriers that often force young people to delay, interrupt or abandon their education.
The beneficiaries, drawn from 11 sublocations across Kajiado West, Kajiado East and Kajiado Central, will receive Sh50,000 annually to support their studies.
The programme gives priority to orphans, persons with disabilities and students from low-income households, with five beneficiaries selected from each sub-location.
Selection involved Area Development Committees and KCDT and Kipeto staff. Applicants were required to present admission letters from their respective institutions, while interviews were conducted in areas where applications exceeded the available slots.
KCDT director Stephen Moiko said the financial support was aimed at ensuring that young people from vulnerable households are not locked out of higher education because of their families' economic circumstances.
"Education is one of the most impactful investments we can make in our communities. We want to ensure that financial challenges do not prevent deserving young people from achieving their dreams," Moiko said.
He said the trust would monitor the beneficiaries' academic progress and follow their transition into employment, further education and other opportunities after graduation.
Janet Sereu of the Ministry of Education in Kajiado county said the initiative would complement government efforts to expand access to education, particularly among vulnerable learners.
The scholarships are funded through proceeds from the Kipeto Wind Farm, which the trust channels into community development programmes.
KCDT said it had also put in place a monitoring mechanism to track students' academic progress and provide support throughout their education.
The programme seeks to extend the benefits of the wind energy project beyond electricity generation by directing part of its proceeds towards education and other community needs.
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