A parent with a beneficiary receives a gift during the launch of the scholarship programme in Kericho on August 21, 2026/COURTESY
A total of 28 bright but financially disadvantaged students from Bomet and Kericho counties have received university scholarships worth Sh22 million from Browns Plantations Kenya and Finlays.
The scholarships, awarded through the Browns and Finlays Community Trust, will provide comprehensive tuition support throughout the beneficiaries’ undergraduate studies at recognised Kenyan universities.
Each student will also receive a laptop to support online learning, research, coursework and access to digital academic resources.
Speaking during the scholarship awards ceremony in Kericho on Friday, Trust board chairperson Bishop Alfred Rotich said the initiative was aimed at ensuring talented students are not locked out of higher education because of financial or technological challenges.
“Today is an extraordinary celebration of resilience, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education,” Rotich said.
He said the 2026 cohort comprised 22 community scholars selected from the 11 constituencies in Bomet and Kericho, with the top-performing boy and girl from each constituency benefiting.
The selection was based on academic merit and verified financial need, while six additional scholarships went to dependants of employees of Browns Plantations Kenya and Finlays Tea Extracts Kenya.
Rotich said providing laptops alongside tuition was deliberate, given the growing reliance on digital platforms in university education.
“In today’s higher education environment, access to digital research, coursework and online learning platforms is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity responsibly and become agents of change in their communities.
“Your hard work and discipline have earned you this seat today. You carry the dreams of your parents, the pride of your home constituencies, and the promise of Kenya’s future,” Rotich said.
The Trust’s patron and Browns Plantations Kenya chief executive officer Dushanth Ratwatte said securing university admission should not mark the end of support for students.
“Access to university should not end with securing admission. Students need the resources to participate fully, succeed academically and prepare themselves for the world of work,” Ratwatte said.
He said the programme was targeting talented young people whose academic potential could otherwise be limited by their circumstances.
“Our focus is on identifying talented young people who have demonstrated academic potential but whose circumstances could limit their opportunities,” Ratwatte added. “Supporting them through university is an investment not only in individual students, but also in the human capital and future leadership of the communities where we operate.”
Tophill Brain and Spine Hospital founder and consultant neurosurgeon who was the chief guest Dr Florentius Koech, challenged the students to remain disciplined and make the most of the opportunity.
Koech, who began his education in a rural primary school in Cheborgei before advancing through local and international medical institutions, said talent could emerge from any background when given the right support.
“Academic potential is not defined by privilege; it is unlocked through discipline, perseverance and the right support at the right time,” he said.
The latest awards bring to 1,243 the number of students supported by the programme across secondary, technical and university education, with 484 having benefited from undergraduate scholarships.
The scholarships come shortly after the Trust awarded Sh8.3 million in vocational scholarships to 39 trainees at Belgut and Konoin Technical Training Institutes.
Six graduates from the 2024 TVET cohort also received professional start-up toolkits worth up to Sh50,000 each to help them establish income-generating enterprises using skills acquired during training.
Beyond scholarships, Browns Plantations Kenya has invested more than Sh350 million in 81 education infrastructure projects across Bomet and Kericho.
The projects include classrooms, science laboratories, libraries, dormitories and dining halls, as part of a broader community investment programme focused on education, technical skills and youth opportunities.
The Trust said the laptops are an integral part of the scholarship package, rather than ceremonial gifts, because university students increasingly depend on digital devices for online learning, research, digital libraries, assignments and communication with lecturers.
The initiative is funded by Browns Plantations Kenya and Finlays, with Browns providing 80 per cent of the funding and Finlays 20 per cent.
