Some 13 bright students from Kiambu County have been guaranteed four years scholarship by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Foundation to pursue secondary school education.
The foundation further sponsored 95 others countrywide for to pursue their education.
The students were picked from families in tea growing zones which are unable to cater for secondary education for their well performing students.
As a threshold for selection, the students had to have scored more than 350 marks in the 2015 KCPE.
The 95 students together with 240 others in senior classes who are in various secondary schools, brings to 335 the total number of students sponsored by KTDA Foundation.
“The KTDA Foundation scholarship programme identifies bright students from tea growing zones and uplifts them by not only sponsoring their tuition, but also catering for their basic necessities such as uniforms and other personal items which are important in ensuring the students succeed in school. The scholarship also offers guidance and counseling, which is important in building the scholars’ characters,” Peter Kanyago, KTDA Foundation Chairman said.
Speaking from Mataara Tea Factory in Gatundu North when he flagged the students off on Wednesday, Mr Kanyago said: “Through this scholarship, KTDA Foundation hopes to mould these students to become the drivers of Kenya’s economy and to become global citizens. The Foundation focuses on ensuring their scholars receive holistic education throughout their secondary school course."
Every year, the foundation assembles the students in Nairobi to impart life skills through a week-long mentorship workshop.
This is important in building the scholars’ characters gives them an opportunity to discover their strengths and equips them with skills to counter the challenges they face in life.
Commenting on the scholarship programme in the same event, KTDA Group CEO Lerionka Tiampati said that as a corporate citizen, it is KTDA’s duty to empower communities through wholesome education, which in turn inspires creativity and innovation.