The County Government of Makueni has awarded full university scholarships to 88 students as part of efforts to expand access to higher education for bright and deserving learners. The scholarships, provided through the Department of Education, ICT and Internship, will support the beneficiaries throughout their university studies.
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Empowerment Centre (MIVEC) in Wote, County Executive Committee Member for Education, ICT and Internship Japheth Mang’oka said the initiative is aimed at ensuring financial constraints do not prevent high-performing students from pursuing their academic ambitions. Mang’oka revealed that more than 30,600 students sat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, but only about 1,400 qualified for university admission. Fourteen students attained an A grade.
The top performers will pursue various degree programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Computer Engineering and Space Engineering, among other disciplines, at universities across the country.
“Some students scored A and others B. They are going to pursue different courses at various universities in the country. We are going to pay full scholarships until they complete their studies,” Mang’oka said.
Alternative pathway for other learners
While congratulating the beneficiaries, the CECM urged them to remain focused on their studies and make the most of the opportunity. He also encouraged students who did not attain the grades required for university admission to consider vocational training as an alternative pathway to employment and entrepreneurship. Mang’oka said Makueni’s vocational training centres provide young people with practical skills that can enable them to earn a livelihood and support their families.
“We are also informing those who did not make it to university to enrol in vocational centres where they can train and get skills that will help them eke a living for themselves and their families,” he said.
The call reflects growing efforts by the county to promote both university education and technical and vocational training as pathways for youth empowerment.
From secondary school to university
The scholarship beneficiaries were initially supported by the county government in 2022 while in secondary school before sitting their KCSE examinations in 2025. One of the beneficiaries, Ian Mutinda, thanked the county government for supporting his education journey from secondary school to university. Mutinda is set to join Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to pursue Medicine and Surgery. He pledged to work hard and eventually give back to the community that supported his education.
“I want first to thank the County Government of Makueni for the support they have given me through secondary and now university. I promise to work hard as I join university and later give back to the people of Makueni,” Mutinda said.
As part of the support package, each beneficiary was also provided with a suitcase ahead of their transition to university. The scholarship programme highlights Makueni County’s continued investment in education while providing a dual pathway for young people—academic progression for those who qualify for university and skills-based training for those pursuing vocational and technical careers.