Dubbed ‘Pepea Education Program’, Elgeyo Marakwet County under the leadership of Governor Wisley Rotich has finally airlifted its first batch of students for overseas studies.
The governor had made a commitment to the youth in his county, assuring them that he would provide opportunities for them to expand their horizons on an international scale.
H.E. Wisely Rotich recalled that the program was birthed out of a partnership deal signed directly between his administration and the United States’ Harding University.
The deal was sweetened by striking a 62% partial scholarship, thus making it attractive to parents. They would have a lesser burden on payment.
In its maiden batch, the Pepea initiative flew 3 students to Harding University, Arkansas State. On Monday 7th, the students departed Kenya, while 4 more students continued to make preparations as their Visas are ready.
“The county entered an MOU to airlift our students to Harding at 62% partial scholarship. We are happy that the program is taking shape,” Governor Rotich stated.
Over and above selecting favourable deals in the US, Governor Rotich has also entered talks with Tacoma College in US and Torrens University in Australia. He maintains that the same partial scholarship plan will remain in use.
The program has taken a significant leap ahead while neighbouring Uasin Gishu County continue to grapple with scholarship trouble.
Governor Wisely Rotich claims that his administration will avoid situations of agents facilitating school fee payments. The ideal solution is to have the parents make payments to the institutions directly.
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This would be unlike Uasin Gishu County in the Finland-Canada scholarship saga.
“The collaboration with foreign universities will see students from Elgeyo Marakwet County study at institutions abroad, at subsidized fees,” he noted.
So far, at least 75 students have secured scholarships to Australian Cambridge International College (CIC) university at 50% scholarship.
“We want to run a transparent airlift program. Students and parents interested in the program are guided by county staff charged with supporting parents with information.”
