Sixty five students were awarded full-paid education scholarships courtesy of KenGen PLC in a colorful ceremony at Starehe Boys Centre Nairobi on 14 August. This is the 14th batch of students the Company is sponsoring.
Hosted by the KenGen Foundation, the event was graced by KenGen’s Chairman Mr. Joshua Choge; Janet Muhoro, KenGen’s Events and Protocols Manager – representing KenGen’s MD & CEO; Anthony Igecha, Managing Trustee KenGen Foundation; and Josphat Mwaura, Member of Managing Committee Starehe Boys Centre.
Also present were KenGen’s Regulatory Affairs Manager Alfred Oseko, and Assistant Finance Manager Shadrack Munyalo representing the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and former Managing Trustee Mike Njeru.
Speaking during the award ceremony of the 26 secondary students and 39 university lucky students, Mr. Choge reiterated the value of hard work to the scholarship recipients adding that KenGen has already shown its commitment to the success of the students.
“As KenGen, we have, and will continue to undertake the expansion of access to education by availing the resources that we possibly can. We shall continue raising the bar of Kenyan education by assisting in improving structures that enhance the learning institutions as well as seek to increase the number of scholarships slots in all areas that we offer”, he said.
On her part, Ms. Muhoro applauded the students for the scholarships, noting that they deserved the awards through their commitment, strength and determination to academic success.
“Receiving the KenGen scholarship is also a responsibility – a responsibility towards your own community. You are now in a position that allows you to give back. You will be the ones who will be able to support those in need and to be actors of change”, she said.
“The KenGen Education Scholarships is here to help you and those who aspire for life-changing education reach their potential. This will be your ticket to new professional opportunities and to new and exciting life journeys”, she added.
The Education Scholarships Awards comes after three days of the KenGen Foundation Annual Mentorship, now in its 6th year. 197 sponsored students attended the three-day symposium, including staff students and beneficiaries under the RAPLAND project.
The KenGen Foundation Annual Mentorship aims at guiding the scholarships beneficiaries into becoming academic giants, while at the same time encouraging the discovery of talents and nurturing of life skills to provide for a balanced approach in achieving transformational leadership.
This year, Transforms Nations facilitated the Annual Mentorship, with KenGen Mentors taking over the responsibility of mentoring the students beyond the symposium.
The Foundation’s Managing Trustee congratulated the scholarships recipients, expressing his conviction on their future academic achievements.
“You are among the top cream in your respective counties, and I am confident that the level of support and academic guidance that you as KenGen sponsored scholars will receive in each of the institutions that you will be attending will be fulfilling and enriching”, he said.
While calling upon other corporate organization and well wishers to contribute to the expansion of the scholarships, Anthony further urged the students graduating from university this year to also contribute to the KenGen Foundation in whatever way they can.
Guest artist MC Jessy, of Churchill Raw fame, gave a humorous recollection of his early life in school, encouraging the students to work even harder to achieve their dreams.
The KenGen Education Scholarship program offers learning opportunities for bright needy secondary and university students selected from the communities living near the Company’s power installations.
The scholarships offer the beneficiaries opportunities to achieve academic excellence while at the same time opening doors to great careers and better futures. Currently the program has 106 university students, and 101 secondary students in various high schools and universities.
Eight of the secondary school beneficiaries are sponsored by contributions from the KenGen Employee Giver Initiative, and eight others from the Schools Green Initiative Challenge tree planting project.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer