Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu. Photo file. 
By Ben Okweingoti
At least 900 learners in Kilifi County have received a major boost after benefitting from Sh8.5 million in scholarships under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) as schools reopen.
Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu on Monday presided over the distribution of scholarship cheques at the Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi town, saying the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on families and ensuring learners remain in school.
Ms Mbeyu said 160 learners were awarded full scholarships worth Sh4,050,000, while more than 700 students from various learning institutions shared Sh4.5 million in partial scholarships.
“Today, I distributed NGAAF grant cheques to students in secondary schools, high schools, colleges, universities and polytechnics under my full scholarship programme dubbed Mama Elimu Kwanza,” she said. “This initiative seeks to ease the financial strain on families and ensure that learners are able to pursue their education without interruption.”
She noted that education remains the most powerful tool for empowering society and pledged to continue supporting bright and deserving students across the county.
“Education is a powerful instrument for empowerment. Through these scholarships and bursaries, we are investing in the future of our children by giving deserving learners an opportunity to achieve their academic goals without disruption,” Ms Mbeyu said.
The Woman Representative reaffirmed her commitment to expanding access to education and promoting equal opportunities for learners in Kilifi County.
“I remain committed to strengthening access to education and creating equal opportunities for all learners in Kilifi. Together, we will nurture talent, promote excellence and build a knowledgeable, empowered generation,” she added.
The NGAAF scholarships target needy but academically promising students and are part of ongoing efforts to improve education outcomes and social empowerment in the county.
