Over 160 students from Gem were offered scholarship

Siaya

Saturday January 20, 2024

KNA By Philip Onyango

 More than 160 bright and needy students from the Gem constituency will this year have their education funded by the Gem Educational and Empowerment (GEEM) community-based organization.

According to the patron of the organization, Mr. Abala Wanga, the beneficiaries include 12 students who have been selected to join national and county schools in various parts of the country.

 Speaking at the Wagai Resource center in Gem Wagai sub-county during the disbursement of the bursary, Wanga who is also the Kisumu City manager said that the CBO had decided to invest in education due to the fading glory of the region in education circles.

Gem constituency has for decades basked in the glory as a citadel of education, thanks to colonial chief, Odera Akang’o who is said to have embraced education early and would whip his subjects for failing to take their children to school.

Wanga lamented that though the constituency boasted of a number of professors in the past, this was no more and the number keeps on dwindling hence the need for all stakeholders in the area to join hands and reverse the trend.

He said that the biggest challenge facing most learners is failure to get funding even from the already established institutions.

“It is painful to see a bright student failing to join form one or college after working so hard in class,” he said adding “this impacts negatively on our society. We cannot sit back and watch our society sink.”

He said that moving forward, GEEM intended to offer bursaries to all needy students in the constituency.

The patron said that apart from an education bursary, the CBO will also seek to uplift vulnerable families through the provision of farm inputs and dissemination of information to members of the community.

Wanga called on Gem leaders to support the initiative, adding that some forces were intimidating those behind the CBO.

“Frustrations, intimidation, and unfounded threats by those who feel uncomfortable are already being felt but we shall surmount them for the sake of our needy society,” he said.

During the occasion, the CBO disbursed a total of Sh 900,000, out of which Sh 340,000 was paid out as tuition fees for those joining national and extra county schools while Sh 540,000 will support students who are continuing with their education in various secondary schools.

Among the beneficiaries is an 18-year-old girl who was forced to drop out of school due to early pregnancy and will now rejoin her old school to complete her studies.

GEEM vice chairperson, Roseline Okoko urged the locals to support the initiative so that more children could benefit.

The occasion was also attended by the GEEM program coordinator, Joseph Kawuor among others.

Courtesy; KNA