The newly created Gatundu North Constituency Education Fund for needy but bright students has disbursed its first tranche of bursaries to university and college students amounting to Sh3.7 million.
The kitty issued cheques to respective institutions of higher learning in favour of students from all communities residing in the constituency who attained grade C and above in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations.
Presiding over the function on Tuesday, at St Joseph’s the Worker Mixed Boarding School, area MP Francis Kigo Njenga said students from poor backgrounds who are pursuing degree, diploma and certificate courses were considered.
“The constituency leadership is committed to ensuring that bright students from poor background are given an opportunity to access education and realise their potential without hindrances,” said Kigo.
“It’s through education that the youth and the community could be enabled to participate in national building for speedy growth,” he added.
The MP said another pending list of 53 applications for students with grade C- and below will be catered for from the Constituency Development Fund’s bursary component.
“This is the first constituency to allocate such a special kitty to the bright but poor students. We are committed to ensuring Gatundu North growth in education which is the only way to alleviate poverty among our people,” he added.
The CDF deputy chairman in the area Martin Kimotho asked residents to take advantage of the free education offered by the national government to ensure that their children are schooled.
“Education is the catalyst for development and mark me that its important all children of school age going children are enrolled for class,” said Kimotho.