By Benedict Ng’etich
The Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) has urged the tea Multinationals in Kericho to increase the amount of funds allocated for scholarships.
Secretary for Kericho Branch Dickson Sang lauded the efforts by James Finlay to offer scholarship to employees’ children, but implored them to increase allocations to cover many families.
“As much as we support the company on the ongoing sponsorship of several children, the figure should be increased in an effort to reach more,” he said.
Mr. Sang was speaking during this year’s occasion when the company awarded Sh.4 million to benefit 20 children joining secondary school.
The trade unionist said the education sponsorship was one of the best rewards for the employees, observing that the impact will be lifelong and advised workers to commit their efforts more as a form of appreciation.
The company’s General Manager in charge of corporate affairs Sammy Kirui said the scholarship was one way the company used to give back to the community for their efforts.
He took the opportunity to thank the parents for guiding their children to achieve the good marks that enabled them qualify for the scholarship.
The vice Chair of the James Finlay Trust Ambassador Joshua Terer, who was speaking on behalf of the chairman Bishop Alfred Rotich, said the Trust had increased its funding to enhance the value of secondary and undergraduate studies.
“Apart from the programme where we target the children of our employees, the under graduate programme offers Sh.150,000 per student per year plus a laptop worth Sh.50,000,” he added.
The Kericho County Director of Education Rose Sagara lauded the company for uplifting the standards of education in Kerich and Bomet counties.
