Popular Kenyan entrepreneur and entertainer Esther Akoth (Akothee) has granted MKU student Milly Nafula KSh50,000 towards her upkeep.
Akothee handed over the cheque on the sidelines of a breakfast forum on education scholarships and funding, which was hosted by MKU Foundation at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
Milly Nafula, who is a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) student at MKU School of Medicine was granted a full scholarship by the Foundation in 2022.
She had stayed out of school for 14 years- despite scoring an A- (minus) grade in her Kenya Certificate of Secondary school examination. When her story was broadcast on Citizen TV prime time news, it triggered national conversation on unequitable access to quality higher education.
Driven by despair, Milly was working at a poshomill, her dream of becoming a medical doctor dissipating with each passing day. She had lost her mother, the sole bread winner, and had been left to fend for her siblings.
MKU Foundation, through its patron Prof. Simon Gicharu responded to her cry and awarded her a full scholarship valued at KSh3.5 million. She joined MKU Medical School at Thika Main Campus in September, 2022.
“I wish to thank Akothee for the donation and as I have promised all my other donors, I will not let you down,” said Milly. “I will work hard and ensure I attain my dream of being a medical doctor.”
While handing over the cheque, Akothee said: “My aim is to complement any efforts that are geared towards educating our bright students and according them a bright future. Milly is a posterchild of what determination is bound to achieve. In a sense, she also represents the challenges that exist in our education systems.”
Akothee is the founder of Akothee Foundation. The Foundation has a bursary fund, rescue centre, feeding program, and a women empowerment program. She is also an MKU alumnus, having started Human Resource Management at undergraduate level.
The Breakfast Forum was hosted by MKU Foundation in partnership with NGOs Coordination Board. It involved the who-is-who in education funding and scholarship including Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund, Equity Bank Foundation, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Elimisha Trust, Affecto Foundation, I &M Bank Foundation, Hope Worldwide, Plan International and Amara Trust.
“This is a first in a series of many such Forums we intend to hold in future as we pursue a unified, unequivocal voice on our contribution towards enhancing access to education in Kenya,” said MKU Foundation Executive Director John W. Koigi. “We are also exploring the possibility of establishing a joint scholarship fund.”
