About 200 Students Awarded Full Scholarship Through Lillian Siyoi Foundation

By Isabella Maua

The Lillian Siyoi Foundation, under the patronage of Trans Nzoia Women Member of the National assembly Lillian Siyoi Foundation has awarded over 170 students full-funded scholarships in Kitale.

The colorful event, which was graced by hundreds of parents and students as well as school principals, doubled up as the foundation’s annual general meeting and mentorship program.

In his address to the congregation, Kevin Juma, the Lillian Siyoi Foundation Executive Director, accentuated the fact that their desire to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in Trans Nzoia County is undeterred.

“There is no doubt that education is the only equalizer; this is why we are not relenting in our quest to ensure every child who hails from a humble background is elevated by being taken through education so that they can achieve their future goals and conquer the world,” noted Juma.

He further divulged that, “In 2022, we did research on the intended 100% transition to high school and realized that at least 25% of the students could not proceed with their education because they live below the poverty line, have indulged in drug and substance abuse, or have fallen victim to teenage pregnancy.”

Despite the green coloration of Trans Nzoia County, it is ironic that reports show the overall poverty lines in monthly adult equivalent terms to be computed as Ksh 1,562 and Ksh 2,913 for rural and urban areas, respectively.

It is key to note that Trans Nzoia is a cosmopolitan region that hosts some of the minority and marginalized communities, many of whom are living without stable families or sustainable jobs.

“In the Lillian Siyoi Foundation, we prioritize needy and bright students from maginalised communities like Sabaots, Sengwer, Pokot, Turkana, Iteso and the most needy and vulnerable families in TransNzoia county to give them a fair opportunity in the global space, which needs educationists and expertise in different fields only achieved by acquiring quality education,” noted Collins Imboha, the Foundation’s program Manager.

Janet Jeptoo, one of the beneficiaries of the scholarships, expressed her gratitude to the foundation and its partners for bringing her dream to life.

“I am a member of the marginalized Sengwer community living in Trans Nzoia with my mother alone; were it not for the Lillian Siyoi Foundation team who visited my home and saw the misery my mom and I were in, I would have never set foot past my primary school,” she recalled with nostalgia.

According to Imboha, the minority’s community misery isn’t hard to spot when one visits Agricultural Development Cooperation farms in the region.

“A tour to any of the ADCs paints a clear picture of what the majority of marginalized communities go through; Khalwenge village is a perfect example of how difficult it can be for a child to go beyond primary school, especially after a very tough journey to achieve completion of primary school,” reiterated Imboha.

In absentia, Trans Nzoia Women Representative Lillian Siyoi, in her written speech, endlessly thanked all partners for their undying support and congratulated students and parents for playing their part in achieving the foundation’s success.

She also promised to walk the journey of educational success with the deserving students even after high school to further their studies and make them ripe for the global job market in the near future.

The key dimensional pillars of the Lillian Siyoi Foundation are empowering the community in education, empowering people with disabilities in society, and campaigning for climate change.