By Arnold Ageta
Governor Amos Nyaribo on Thursday, April 24, engaged this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, who are beneficiaries of the Nyamira County Secondary School Scholarship program, at Nyambaria High School.
The 230 students, part of the 751 beneficiaries of the scholarship program, are participating in a one-week mentorship exercise as part of their preparations for the KCSE examination.
The governor visited to motivate the candidates before they conclude their mentorship exercise tomorrow. “We called you here so that you can work as a team and succeed as one unit under this scholarship program,” he told them.
Governor Nyaribo announced that the program will be made sustainable beyond KCSE through the registration of an academy where beneficiaries will also support the needy upon achieving success in life.
“When you succeed, you will contribute to the kitty to assist the less fortunate from the county who cannot afford school fees,” he said. “You should not forget where you have come from.”
Governor Nyaribo informed the students that he initiated the program after witnessing numerous cases of needy students, some of whom even attempted suicide because they could not join their dream schools where they had been admitted.
“I tried to rescue some by paying from my own pocket, but it was not sustainable,” he said. “If we are to live in an equal society, then we have to address this issue of poverty.”
He further stated that the most effective way to combat poverty is by providing educational opportunities for all.
“It is not my duty to read your books. It is not my duty to make you pass. But it is my social responsibility to have selected you, given your circumstances, to receive an opportunity to succeed,” the governor told the students.
He also advised the students not to be intimidated by each other due to the different schools they attend, emphasizing that regardless of whether they are in a national or extra-county school, what truly matters is how they utilize the grades they achieve after the exams.
“It does not matter which school you are in as long as you score an A. Your grade A from a national school is not superior to a grade A from a day school,” he said.
The governor insisted on the establishment of the academy, which will transform the program into a revolving fund, as future funding for the program cannot be guaranteed due to the variability of leadership.
The current scholarship program identifies and selects bright but needy students from the county who receive not only school fees but also shopping allowances, pocket money, and transportation to and from school.
Students shared emotional testimonies, stating that the scholarship had saved their futures, which had appeared bleak, and had made them significantly brighter.
The students pledged to work diligently, succeed, and become the agents of change that the county needs in the near future.
Maurice Bundi, a student at Nyambaria Boys, expressed his gratitude for the governor’s efforts in supporting their education, thus providing them with an opportunity to compete with others, something they would not have been able to do without the scholarship program.
“We were hopeless because our parents are very poor and cannot afford to pay our school fees, let alone buy us basic school needs,” he said sadly. “But now we have hope that we will achieve our dreams.”
He added that they had benefited greatly from the mentorship week and promised their readiness to excel and contribute to the greatness of Nyamira County.
Similarly, Fridah Gesora, a student at Kereri Girls, stated that she had been significantly shaped by the scholarship and the opportunity to attend school.
“You did not only give us an opportunity to achieve academic excellence, but you have also mentored us, which has made us better than our fellow students who do not receive the kind of mentorship we get from the county,” she said.
She further explained that the mentorship they had been receiving since joining Form One had built their character and made them stronger and prepared to face the world.
“I promise that I will pass my examination, and I can assure you that you did not make a mistake in selecting us for the scholarship,” she concluded her testimony.
Edwin Omwenga of Mwongori High School echoed similar sentiments, saying he felt fortunate to have been selected for the program after missing the opportunity to join his dream school.
“After my KCPE in 2022, I was unable to join Nyambaria Boys, where I had been admitted, because my parents could not afford it,” he confessed. “Unfortunately, my spot at Nyambaria Boys was filled due to the delay, but the Principal advised me to join Mwongori Secondary.”
Omwenga stated that it is because of the scholarship that he is still in school and that nothing will prevent him from scoring an A in the 2025 KCSE exams.
“We have been given tips on how to handle the exams, and I am convinced that we are ready and will succeed,” he concluded.
The week-long mentorship programs are organized by the County Department of Education to motivate, encourage, and prepare the students for the resumption of their studies and upcoming examinations.
