KCB Foundation has welcomed fifty talented student-athletes into its annual education scholarship programme. It has awarded them full scholarships to pursue their secondary education in Kenya. This initiative marks the launch of the Foundation’s student athletic programme, aimed at nurturing future world-class athletes from underprivileged backgrounds.
The students who are drawn from twelve counties across Kenya will join various secondary schools this week, embarking on a four-year journey with their academic and athletic pursuits fully supported. This programme aligns with the bank’s long-term commitment to promoting young talent and fostering sporting excellence in the country. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Eldoret, KCB Bank Managing Director Kenya, Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai said: “At KCB, we’re committed to opening doors of opportunity in our local communities. We have incorporated athletic scholarships to extend a brighter future to talented but underprivileged young people who have a promising career as world-class athletes in line with our efforts to develop sporting talent in this country”.
The twelve counties include: Baringo, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kisii, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot. KCB Foundation will work with Transend Talent academy, to train and nurture the students’ athletic talent as well as KIPRUN, to provide their athletic kits.
The event was officiated by Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Hon. Ababu Namwamba who said: “KCB’s efforts to enhance the country’s efforts in producing world athletic champions will go a long way in putting a dent to the high rates of youth unemployment among the Kenyan youth. Kenyans have already set the precedence as athletic global champions as such the youth today are set for the future.” Mrs. Kimtai added : “Our goal is to increase opportunities for gifted and talented youth who are disadvantaged, and would otherwise have dropped out of school for lack of school fees.”
This year, the KCB Foundation set aside a Kshs. 800 million sponsorship to support a total of 1,000 students for the 2024 scholarship class. The students are bright vulnerable individuals from across the 47 counties in Kenya who sat for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2023. This includes teen mothers, female genital mutilation (FGM) champions, gifted and talented students as well as persons living with disabilities. The programme targets bright students from underprivileged backgrounds, with one hundred slots allocated to persons with disabilities and five hundred slots to girls – including gifted and talented individuals, students rescued from FGM, early marriage and teenage mothers.
Under the programme, all the high school beneficiaries who sit the KCSE examination receive full school-fee support in the university and tertiary scholarships. The programme also includes a three month apprenticeship post-KCSE results at KCB branches countrywide for all the beneficiaries commencing with the 2022 class.Launched in 2007, the revamped programme has so far benefitted 4,675 students, with 2,715 currently in school.
