Hope has been restored for 500 vulnerable students in Garissa County who were on the verge of missing out on Grade 10 and Form One admission. The Elimu Scholarship Programme, funded by the World Bank and the Kenyan government, has stepped in to cover their full tuition and upkeep, averting a potential crisis in the region’s transition rates.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the poorest households in the county, include orphans and children living with disabilities. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Garissa Township MP Dekow Barrow hailed the program as a "great equalizer."

Beyond Tuition

"In this region, fees are just one barrier," Barrow explained. "Drought has wiped out our livestock, leaving families with nothing. This scholarship provides not just school fees, but transport, shopping, and mentorship. It is a holistic rescue package."

• The Gender Gap: A significant portion of the scholarships has been allocated to girls, a deliberate move to curb early marriages which spike when families cannot afford to keep daughters in school.
• Selection Transparency: The Community Selection Advisory Committees (CSACs) were lauded for ensuring the most deserving cases were picked, silencing the usual complaints of nepotism that plague bursary funds.

As the students boarded buses to their respective schools, the Elimu Scholarship stands as a testament that with the right support, geography need not determine destiny.