Elgeyo Marakwet County youth will benefit from an airlift programme signed with Canadian education institutions.
While meeting representatives of the Canadian High Commission in Iten this week, the governor said the programme was in line with his election campaign manifesto dubbed ‘Pepea,’ which seeks to ease education access outside Kenya.
“We focus on students from humble backgrounds, marginalised and insecurity-prone areas across the county. Only education can be used as a bridge to transform such areas,” the county boss said.
Canadian High Commission representative Crista M’clnnis lauded the “brave step” taken to identify colleges in Canada for partnership.
She assured smooth travel logistics for the students.
“I am elated that you have identified our institutions for Elgeyo Marakwet students. We will ensure that everything is okay for those who will be travelling,” she said.
Since the pioneer 1960s, Education Airlifts to many parts of the world, especially the US, midwifed by Tom Mboya among others, a number of programmes have been fashioned along the idea, helping many bright but needy youth to achieve their educational dreams.
Dr Susan Mboya – Tom Mboya’s daughter – launched Zawadi Africa Education Fund to send bright girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to colleges in the US, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya.
Equity Bank, through its Equity Leaders Programme, sends tens of students to universities across the world for a four-year undergraduate scholarship.
In August this year, Equity sent out 73 candidates – 20 to Ivy League universities – to study abroad at a cost of Sh2.1 billion. The bank also sponsors thousands of young people in local secondary schools under its Wings to Fly annual programme with other sponsors.
