Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungw’a has issued 85 cheques to needy children in Kikuyu.
The money is meant to assist those joining secondary schools.
Speaking at the Kikuyu CDF grounds on Thursday where he issued the cheques to beneficiaries, Ichung’wa said that the beneficiaries were those well performers in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). He highlighted that these beneficiaries came from humble backgrounds which couldn’t afford the costs of secondary education.
Ichung’wa said that these programme to help these children was encouraged by the fact that most of the well performers in the area lacked financial support to pursue further education. He said that these in most occasions resulted to children drop outs and early marriages and also criminal activities among these children.
“Our main focus is to sharpen these children academically because we know education is key to success. When we invest in our children’s education, that’s the best we can offer our children,” said Ichung’wa.
The MP said that the sponsorship was for the entire secondary school period. However he challenged those students getting the sponsorship to ensure they work extra hard because any form of dropping academically will force them to withdraw the scholarship and offer other serious students.
He said that the beneficiaries are those who applied and the officers in charge approved their applications. He said most of those who applied were late failing to get the sponsorship.
Ichung'wa called on well-wishers in the region to come out and educate other needy students in the area. He also thanked the Equity Bank’s Wings to Fly programme which has helped many children get education.
“I also want to challenge parents who are reluctant in educating their children despite having the ability to that they are risking the futures of their own children. However any parent that will be found to have kept the child at home or given them away for marriage will be arrested because every child has the right to education,” he said.