Savannah Cement Ltd has issued an orphan with Sh1m worth scholarship to join campus after failing to do so for two years due to extreme poverty.
The company’s managing director Ronald Ndegwa said they decided to support the boy’s higher education after his plight was highlighted on a local daily few months ago.
Ndegwa said Henry Obwando was first admitted to Kenyatta University in 2013 but deferred his admission twice on account of his economic plight.
“Obwanda worked hard to score straight A’s in his KCSE, there was no way he could have afforded the fees required to join Kenyatta University and this forced him to twice defer admission,” said Ndegwa.
He said the boy’s plight ended up reducing him to work at a local posho mill in Kisumu to fend for himself, his mother and three other siblings who live in their Luanda rural home, Vihiga County despite having attained top marks in his form four examinations.
Ndegwa said the comprehensive scholarship had been availed within scope of the Savannah Cement Social Investment Policy.
“Besides the full scholarship valued at more than Sh1 million, Savannah Cement will also provide medical cover for Obwanda within the company’s medical scheme, meet his upkeep costs alongside offering him internship opportunities during his studies,” said Ndegwa.
He said management and staff had offered to join him in mentoring the boy.
Ndegwa who addressed the press at the company in Athi River town on Monday said it was the first time they are supporting an individual.
He said they support schools and communities.
Ndegwa said the scholarship gesture came shortly after the company signed a collaborative partnership agreement with Kenyatta University in June 2016.
He said the agreement provides a collaborative platform for the two organizations to engage in joint research activities, capacity building among other areas of mutual benefit.
Ndegwa said the boy is undertaking Mechanical Engineering at the university.