Govt To Revamp Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) To Coordinate The Issuance Of Scholarships and Bursaries
The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) is undergoing a transformation by the State Department of Basic Education to enhance its capability in overseeing the distribution of scholarships and bursaries across the country.
Established in 1966 under the Ministry of Education, JKF, a parastatal, operates as a company limited by guarantee without share capital, focusing on advancing education, relieving poverty, and addressing public distress in East Africa.
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Initiated in 1968, the JKF scholarship fund serves as a strategic means to fulfill the organization’s primary goal of advancing education and alleviating poverty, operating in two main areas: publishing and scholarships.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Permanent Secretary for Education, announced the revitalization of JKF during a meeting in Mombasa with County Commissioners and County Directors of Education from the Coast region.
Dr. Kipsang emphasized the need for JKF to enhance its coordination of bursary allocations and establish a comprehensive beneficiary database, eliminating the possibility of dual benefits from various sources such as CDF, County Government, and the Elimu Scholarship.
“We are revamping our Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) to boost its capacity to coordinate bursary allocation. It will build a database of all beneficiaries so that there is no double dipping. A child does not have to benefit simultaneously from CDF, the County Government, and the Elimu Scholarship,” reported Dr. Kipsang.
To facilitate a smooth transition, Dr. Kipsang urged the prompt finalization of bursary awards before the commencement of the school year, ensuring that children are not kept at home awaiting potential CDF or County Government bursaries.
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“Sometimes some of the children remain at home in anticipation of either getting a CDF bursary or a County Government bursary,” he remarked.
In addition, Dr. Kipsang criticized leaders who, based on their parents’ voting patterns, discriminate against children during the bursary distribution process.
“We shouldn’t punish our children for what they don’t know. Sometimes our children don’t know how we voted as adults and therefore nobody should use that to the disadvantage of our children,” emphasized the PS.
Dr. Kipsang reiterated that bursaries are the entitlement of children and should remain detached from any alignment with their parents’ views. Furthermore, he called for community awareness and encouraged the pursuit of teaching courses, particularly in remote counties, to support the community.
Acknowledging the contributions of County Governments, Members of Parliament through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and the Elimu Scholarships, Dr. Kipsang praised their efforts in providing bursaries and scholarships to learners.
“Our partners in the banking sector and other sectors have done quite well in ensuring that we give scholarships to our children to ensure that our children are in school,” commended Dr. Kipsang.
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Govt To Revamp Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) To Coordinate The Issuance Of Scholarships and Bursaries
