A women's group in Kirigiti, Kiambu Sub-County has urged the county government to increase the allocation of bursary funds for needy students in the area.
The group has raised concern that most of needy children in the area are ending up being "irrelevant" despite their good performance in the national examinations.
Speaking at Imani Church on Sunday, the chairlady of Kirigiti Women Self Help Group (KWSHG), Anne Njoki said that most of the families in the area were needy and couldn't afford to admit their children into institutions of higher learning despite doing well in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
She says that most of the bright students in the area who performed well have not yet joined universities due to lack of funds.
She said that due to that, the area doesn't produce any scholars or academicians who can change the thinking of people in the area. She expressed her worries that the large number of needy students are headed to live mediocre lives despite their potential.
"We thank the county government for the bursaries during secondary school education. But, after KCSE we need more help. Needy families actually depend on bright children they had to at least change their lives when they get well educated and have good careers.," she said.
She said their families fail to be liberated by their children because those bright students from needy homes end up doing casual work just like their parents.
"We have bright students and we really want a change in our society and our children, we are calling on our Governor William Kabogo to consider offering varsity scholarship to children from needy families to at least attain their dreams and change their families," she added.
Faith Mumbi, a vegetable vendor and a member of the group says that she has a son who had completed secondary school in 2013 ago but she had no means to take her to the university despite him being offered admission to Kenyatta University.
"It is very disappointing as my son is always complaining. his colleagues are now joining their third year," she said.