Parents from Uasin Gishu County are urgently seeking assistance after their children were unable to secure places at overseas universities, despite having paid significant sums through the Overseas Education Trust scholarship. The students were meant to study in Finland and Canada, but due to an alleged scam, many of them are now stuck at home, unable to continue their education.
The affected parents, supported by the Eldo 40 Vijana TuJiinue Vijana Tujisaidie Initiative, led by Founder Hosea Kemei, have expressed their disappointment and frustration. They are calling for support from both the government and well-wishers to help their children continue their studies.
Noah Kemboi, one of the parents, shared that more than 200 students are still at home, three years after the suspected scam took place. The financial strain has been overwhelming for families who spent all their savings on tuition fees, only for the educational opportunities to fall through.
“We are asking for help from the government, leaders, and well-wishers to raise about Sh57 million. This amount would help these students continue their education in Kenyan colleges or abroad if possible,” Kemboi appealed.
He added that among the 210 affected students, 100 have the potential to enroll in medical courses at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), which requires Sh24 million for the full program. The remaining students need approximately Sh20 million to enroll in other tertiary institutions.
“We believe if we can raise this money, the students will be able to start their studies immediately and pursue their career goals. We urge our leaders to step in and assist these students,” Kemboi said.
He also emphasized that the initiative is not political, but rather a genuine effort to support the future of these young people who have been left in limbo.
Magdaline Rutto, another parent, is calling for public support in an upcoming fundraising event scheduled for June 14. The event aims to raise funds for the 210 students, and Rutto has also appealed to President William Ruto, Members of Parliament, and other leaders to intervene in the situation.
Asenath Okere, one of the affected students, shared her disappointment. She had hoped to study nursing at Thompson Rivers University in Canada, but her dreams were shattered when the scholarship offer failed to materialize.
“We thought the county would help us secure a better future, but everything went wrong after we paid all our money,” Okere said. “We still hope to continue our education, and we are asking for help.”
Many students, like Okere, have struggled emotionally after the incident. Some have fallen into depression, while others have given up on furthering their education and turned to other options, such as marriage.
The parents and students are now looking to the government and the public for support, hoping that their children’s dreams of a better future can still be realized.
