How Kenya Pipeline Company is shining hope among students, schools

The KPC Foundation has invested more than Sh200 million to improve learning infrastructure.

by PERPETUA ETYANG

Big-read10 March 2025 - 11:00

In Summary

With many learning institutions grappling with infrastructure challenges, the KPC foundation has invested millions of shillings in uplifting school infrastructure in different parts of the country.
For instance, in February, it commissioned infrastructural projects worth Sh24 million to improve education standards in Homa Bay.

A collage photo of KPC Foundation beneficiaries Levy Kabesa, Blessings Isabwa, Allan Kwambai and Musicha Ronnix

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and Kenya Pipeline Company managing director Joe Sang unveil the plaque of a newly constructed girls’ dormitory at Siburi Secondary School in Karachuonyo constituency, Homa Bay county /HANDOUT

When Levy Kabesa sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Exams back in 2018 and scored 353 marks, he was uncertain about the future.

Born with congenital vision complications, Kabesa, right from his early years, was determined to carve out success in life. But as fate would have it, the 21-year-old got an eye injury that would change the course of his life.

“I was born with congenital low vision and after an eye injury at age nine, my vision blurry and did not improve despite surgery,” says Kabesa, who hails from Nandi county.

In 2019, after his stellar KCPE performance, he joined Moi Gesusu High School, an extra county school, in Masaba South sub-county, Kisii County.

“But by 2020, my eye condition worsened, forcing me to seek treatment in various hospitals,” Kabesa says. Though his resolve was severely tested by the eye problem, he vowed to beat all odds to reach even greater education heights.

Kabesa enrolled at the Kenya Institute for the Blind, in 2021, an institution focused on improving the well-being, education, training and employment opportunities for the visually impaired.

A year later, he joined Thika Secondary School for the Blind. Coming from a not-so-well-endowed background, tuition fees was his biggest source of financial worry.

He knew very well that the prospects of a better future strongly depended his pursuit of education. But to his pleasant surprise, his worries of dropping out of school due to lack of school fees were extinguished by the Kenya Pipeline Company Foundation. Through the Inuka Scholarship Programme, the foundation cleared his fees.

“Despite the financial challenges, I received support from Kenya Pipeline Company, which helped cover my school fees. With their assistance, I scored an A plain,” Kabesa says.

“I am grateful to God, my teachers and Kenya Pipeline Company for their support.”

Allan Kwambai, 20, from Marakwet West, is another beneficiary of the Inuka Scholarship Programme.

Though suffering from haemophilia, his dreams were renewed through the programme. Haemophilia is a genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to form blood clots, leading to prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery.

The health condition, however, did not deter him from pursuing his dreams. Kwambai studied at Kapsowar Primary School and scored 356 marks before joining Chebara Boys’ High School.

His high school life was dogged by many challenges, with lack of school fees being the most conspicuous. Kwambai’s hope was however restored the moment he received news that he was among the lucky students enrolled in the Inuka Scholarship Programme.

“In 2021, I received a full scholarship from Kenya Pipeline Company after scoring 356 marks in the KCPE, despite living with haemophilia. This support not only eased the financial strain on my family but also inspired me to pursue academic excellence,” Kwambai says.

School fees burden sorted, Kwambai put all his energies in education, scoring an impressive A- in KCSE.

“I am deeply grateful for Kenya Pipeline’s support, which motivated me to continue with my studies and inspire others facing similar challenges. I look forward to achieving more with this backing,” he says.

Kwambai’s story is not far from that of Musicha Ronnix aged 19. Though totally blind, his dream to pursue education remained his driving force.

After completing his primary education, Ronnix joined Kibos School for the Blind, a national secondary school, in Muhoroni subcounty, Kisumu county.

He later joined Thika High School for The Blind. KPC also sorted his school fees headache, enabling him to not just complete his secondary education, but also post an impressive B+.

“I believe my success is the result of not just luck, but a combination of sacrifice, commitment and discipline. I am honoured to be a beneficiary of the KPC Scholarship Programme,” Ronnix says.

“I am deeply grateful to KPC for its unwavering support, which has played a significant role in my academic journey.”

Though his impaired vision remains a source of constant worry, Blessings Isabwa, 18, dreamt of acing her exams and thanks to the scholarship scheme, she achieved her dreams.

After completing her primary education at Mukumu Girls’ Primary School in Kakamega county and scoring 409 marks. She was enrolled in the scholarship after securing a place at Mary Hills School, her dream school.

“Despite missing lessons for eye check-ups, I graduated with an Aand developed a passion for biology and English. I am grateful for the support and aspire to work with similar organisations to give back to my community and inspire future generations,” she says.

INUKA PROGRAMME

Launched in 2017, the Inuka programme supports needy and physically challenged students to pursue secondary education. Since its inception, 746 students have been seen through secondary schools across 47 counties.

“We sponsor a boy and a girl from each county, with an annual adoption of 94 students since 2016,” says KPC on its website.

Vetting of beneficiaries is carried out by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and county officers to ensure only deserving cases are considered.

Advertisements are published in the mainstream media houses with interested applicants instructed to collect and submit application forms at the NCPWD county offices.

Ninety of the Inuka beneficiaries sat for last year’s KCSE, with 37 scoring C+ and above. Last year’s cohort marked a notable rise compared to the 2023 group, where 26 students achieved C+ or higher.

In December last year, the foundation unveiled another educational initiative to empower students with disability to advance their education in universities and TVETs.

The Inuka Plus Scholarship Programme builds on the success of the Inuka programme. During the launch, KPC managing director Joe Sang’ said the organisation spends up to Sh41 million a year on the programmes.

The scholarships cover full tuition, meals, accommodation and assistive devices. It also covers mentoring, psychosocial support and leadership development.

“Our motivation to start this new programme was to bridge the gap. It was about how can we support these students’ transition to higher-level education after completing high school,” Sang’ said.

KPC Foundation manager Rachael Gathoni said the initiative has helped students with disability to acquire knowledge.

“Currently, we have 25 students in universities across the country and we are grateful to note that some of them scored A plains and have been called to pursue courses such as medicine and pharmacy and we are very proud,” she said.

The foundation has invested in the education sector because it is one of the fastest ways to eliminate poverty and effect change.

She said children with disability have more challenges and one of the ways out is to help them access quality education.

“We are working with other stakeholders in the sector to ensure quality access to education and that the children can transition to university and later to the economic environment,” Gathoni said.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The KPC Foundation is not investing in learners only.

With many learning institutions grappling with infrastructure challenges, the foundation has invested millions of shillings in uplifting school infrastructure in different parts of the country.

For instance, in February, it commissioned infrastructural projects worth Sh24 million to improve education standards in Homa Bay.

The foundation built two classrooms at a cost of Sh3 million at Lambwe Mixed Special Secondary School in Suba North constituency and a Sh5 million dormitory at Siburi Mixed Secondary in Karachuonyo constituency.

Another Sh5 million dormitory was built at St Joseph Multi-purpose Secondary School in Ndhiwa constituency and a modern laboratory and dormitory valued at Sh8 million at Simbi Mixed Secondary School.

KPC Foundation also built an administration block and a latrine at a cost of Sh3 million at Kowuor Primary School in Karachuonyo.

Jesca Akoth, a student at Siburi Mixed Secondary School, described the project as a game changer. The constant congestion in their dormitory left them with no choice but to seek fresh air outside at night.

“Some students were forced to be day scholars because there was no adequate space in the dormotory to accommodate all the students. We hope that Siburi Mixed Secondary School will be a full boarding school in the near future because of the new dormitory that we have been given,” Akoth said.

At Lambwe Mixed Special Secondary School, principal Margaret Kwamboka described the situation at the school as dire until the foundation intervened.

The school was conducting lessons in shifts due to lack of enough classrooms.

“Initially, we had two classrooms and a library. We are now happy because there is a conducive environment for students and teachers. Teachers are able to go to class at the same time,” she said.

Sang’, while addressing the company’s investment in school buildings, said the foundation focuses on giving back to the community.

“It is not about the billions of shillings that we spend in the pipeline and tanks, it is about the simple things, such as classrooms, that we build for our children for them to have a conducive environment when they are in school. Education is a big thematic area for the Kenya Pipeline Foundation,” he said.