Several children walking long distances to school in Uasin Gishu have benefited from the Bicycle Educational Empowerment Programme.
Students at the Kokwet Secondary School and Christ the King High School Kemeliet are the first beneficiaries of the program where each school received 115 bicycles.
World Vision Kenya representative Jacklyne Rioba and the Buffalo Bicycle president Dave Swaden said that the bicycles would improve the performance of the learners by reducing the time they spent on the road.
“Some students walk for up up to 20km before reaching school. They have to walk the same distance again back home every day. The bicycles will help reduce the exhaustion and in the long run their performance will improve,” said Rioba.
They learners were urged to take good care of the bicycles to ensure they serve them for long. Parents were also warned against letting their children use them for any other purpose apart from travelling to school.
The donors said that if a student is found misusing their bicycle, it would be given to other deserving children.
"Under this programme, we will be donating three thousands bicycles to selected rural schools,” said Swaden.