Education possesses the profound power to transform entire communities. This promise became a reality for twenty-five youth from Laisamis Constituency, who joined the first cohort of Winds of Change (WoC) Scholarship beneficiaries and successfully transitioned into their respective tertiary institutions across the country to pursue their dream courses.
The WoC Scholarship Fund was established with a clear, strategic vision: to build human capital in the region by focusing on youth, empowering them to generate income and support their families. According to Felix Rottmann, Director of WoC, the programme is the result of extensive research aimed at giving beneficiaries the absolute best chances of completing their studies and securing long-term employment.
Community driven initiative
To ensure absolute fairness and equity, the selection of these beneficiaries was designed as a highly collaborative, community-driven initiative.
Job Lengoiyap, our Community Liaison Manager says the team engaged in extensive consultations with local leaders. Furthermore, the community was empowered to select their own ward committees to oversee the entire process, guaranteeing transparency from start to finish.
Before heading to college, the scholars, parents/guardians, community and education leaders and stakeholders gathered for a scholarship induction and award event held at the Lake Turkana Wind Power farm on 19th and 20th August 2026. This event was a unique opportunity for the scholars to engage and listen to the Chief Guest, Paul Russo, the Group Chief Executive Officer of KCB Group PLC, who hails from Laisamis. He encouraged the scholars to work hard and challenged them to eventually return to Laisamis to help develop their community.
A highlight of the day was the official awarding of the scholarship letters, witnessed by proud parents and guardians. Reflecting on the impact of the initiative, Ambrose Lepati, a guardian from Loglogo Ward, expressed the collective gratitude of the families.
“To the families of the students, it will be a relief because most of them are not even able to give the students pocket money,” Ambrose shared.
Following this warm send-off, the students travelled to their new campuses to pursue courses in teaching and engineering.
During the orientation, Peter Muchinju, the Scholarship Manager, encouraged the scholars to apply three guiding principles: dream, commit, and return. He implored them to dream beyond their present circumstances, to commit fully to their education even on the hardest days, and ultimately, to return to Laisamis as role models who can create opportunities for others.
“When enough or all of you dream, commit and return, you become a force, perhaps stronger than the winds above Sarima,” Peter urged the students. “Because the greatest measure of this scholarship will not be the number of certificates we celebrate. It will be the number of lives those certificates go on to change. So become a force for knowledge. A force for service. A force for innovation. A force for opportunity. A force for change.”
Holistic scholarship
The WoC scholarship provides a comprehensive, continuous support package that includes tuition, transport, and accommodation expenses, alongside ongoing mentorship, psychosocial support, and dedicated counselling.
Peter noted that seeing the scholars arrive safely and begin classes has been a moment of immense pride. Despite the daunting nature of moving to a new environment, the scholars have shown remarkable resilience, embracing college life with enthusiasm as they familiarise themselves with their surroundings and actively participate in class.
Regarding this ongoing support, Peter emphasises that the commitment to these young men and women does not stop at admission.
“We are in constant communication with them to ensure they feel supported every step of the way. Whether it is adjusting to a new city or managing the rigorous demands of coursework, our mentorship framework is designed to help them overcome hurdles and remain focused.”
This holistic approach is crucial for students who must overcome immense odds. Take Joseph Loibor, for example. Growing up in Laisamis, his early years were spent herding livestock because his parents could not afford school fees. Today, thanks to the scholarship, Joseph is pursuing Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Nyandarua National Polytechnic.
Reflecting on his journey, Joseph captures the true spirit of the pioneer cohort. “For me, these opportunities are not just about my school fees. They are about someone believing that I have potential,” he explains. “They have taught me that your background does not have to determine your destination.”
As the scholars pursue their dreams, the definition of success is seeing them complete their courses and get engaged in meaningful employment or self-employment, ultimately uplifting their communities.
