Meru County rolls out Elimu Scholarship programme

Meru County has introduced the Elimu Scholarship programme, set to benefit 150 needy students across the county for the first time. The initiative, funded by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Equity Bank Group Foundation, aims to improve access to secondary education by covering school fees, transport, and learning materials for beneficiaries.
During the flagging-off ceremony in Meru town, Reverend Jack Kithinji, chair of the selection board, highlighted that the county was included after a two-year pilot revealed its need for the programme. The 150 beneficiaries were drawn from the county’s nine sub-counties, prioritizing students from disadvantaged families who had been admitted to secondary schools but were yet to report.
Meru County Education Executive Linner Nkirote Kailanya described the scholarship as a God-sent opportunity, uplifting education standards in needy areas and supporting students to pursue their dream careers.
Local leaders expressed gratitude for the inclusion of Meru in the programme. Tigania West MP John Mutunga urged the government to extend similar support to other sectors such as health and roads, while Tigania East MP Gichunge Kabeabea noted that additional needy students would be considered under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursaries.
MCA Victor Karithi called on individual well-wishers to assist students not covered by the scholarship to ensure no child is left behind in accessing education.
The programme underscores the county’s commitment to improving educational opportunities and supporting vulnerable students to succeed academically.