Rays Of Hope Spread Across Kenya As KPC’s Inuka Program Transforms Lives
Established in 1973 to construct a refined oil pipeline system and transport petroleum products from Mombasa to the hinterland, the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has over the years through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) wing supported individuals, special groups, and communities as a way of appreciating the Kenyan people and giving back to the community. The company’s Inuka Program offers scholarships for children living with disabilities through their secondary and tertiary education in hope for a better livelihood and future.
It is in appreciation of the numerous challenges children with disabilities face, that in the year 2015, Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) through its Foundation, established a special empowerment education scholarship programme christened Inuka. Ostensibly, the fund is to enable children living with disabilities, access secondary and tertiary education with a hope for a better livelihood in future
When Nelson Mandela said, “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”, he may have had Miriam Chepleting Kipkemboi from Uasin Gishu County in mind. Miriam scored A (Plain) of 82 points in the 2021 KCSE exams. Miriam who had her leg amputated because of cancer, is a beneficiary of KPC’s Inuka scholarship scheme; a special fund for children abled differently.
“I am forever grateful for the Inuka scholarship because it has changed my life. I dread to imagine what my life would have been like, were it not for KPC’s support,” Miriam wondered. Currently, Miriam’s is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery and hopes to specialize in Oncology to afford her an opportunity to treat other cancer patients.
Annually, 96 abled-differently children from across the 47 Counties, benefit from the fund. Begun in 2016, the first cohort of form one students were enrolled into the program in January 2017. The criterion is that two abled differently children; (a boy and a girl), are selected from each of the forty-seven based on the level of destitution and enrolled in the program.
Since its inception in 2016, 470 students from modest backgrounds, have benefitted from the program. KPC has since inception, spent approximately Kshs 56 million to finance the program.
Caroline Wanjugu Mwangi from Nyeri County is another beneficiary of KPC’s Inuka Scholarship Program. She is the fourth born in a family of four; three of whom are persons living with Albinism.
Caroline defied all odds to overcome societal stereotypes and beliefs about Albinism, by excelling in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), scoring 397 marks that earned her a place at Mahiga Girls Secondary School.
Her determination to be a shining star, saw her attain an admirable mean grade of A (Minus) of 76 points in the 2021 KCSE. Caroline aspires to become a lawyer. She is inspired by Justice Mumbi Ngugi and is pursuing Bachelor of Laws degree.
Through this initiative KPC continues to appreciate the various challenges through which children living with disabilities go through in their pursuit for education.
KPC takes pride as a public company that it has been able to successfully implement a programme which offers equal opportunities to children of both genders who are abled differently.
The company equally appreciates that whereas its resources may not be adequate to meet all the needs of these children, it bravely soldiers on with the hope that more resources will be mobilized, and more beneficiaries enrolled in the program.
Other than the Inuka program, KPC, has consistently supported the empowerment of communities across the country especially the vulnerable individuals, needy and disadvantaged groups.
The Company’s philanthropic initiatives are thematically categorized as Education, Health and Sanitation, Clean water, Sports for Development Environmental Conservation and Emergencies. All CSI activities are aligned to the government’s Big-4 Agenda, SDG, and Vision 2030. They are equally national and regional in representation.
Education infrastructure
The Foundation has invested over Ksh.300 million to improve learning infrastructures such as classrooms, laboratories, ablution blocks, dormitories, computer labs, administration block as well as equipping these facilities. These initiatives have benefited thousands of learners and tutors across the country and positively impacted several beneficiaries.
Health & Sanitation
While access to quality healthcare is a constitutional right, millions of Kenyans cannot afford to pay for health services in public or private hospitals. Health services in Kenya is an economic burden to most citizens. This is because Kenyans spend huge sums of their income on health. The ripple effect is that other household’s needs are compromised thus stunting economic wellbeing and lifestyles.
In complementing the National government’s aspirations to achieve Big Four Agenda pillar – Universal Health Coverage- as well as SDG goal number 3 (Good Health and well-being), KPC Foundation has invested substantially in healthcare with over 15,000 people positively impacted.
In support of National Government’s initiative and SDG No.6 of provision of clean water to all, KPC Foundation has sunk boreholes at Akithii Girls Secondary School, Okarkar, Kiboko Maasai Ranches, Thange, and Enoretet regions. The Company has also donated water tanks to Muthurwa market and schools along the right of way (ROW). It has also constructed a dam at Kololo area in Kitui County that will benefit over 3,000 residents.
Sports for Development
As part of social development, KPC Foundation has invested heavily in sports. Beneficiaries include Ndalat Gaa Isaiah Kiplagat Marathon, Kaas Marathon, Eldoret Town Marathon, and First Lady Beyond Zero Marathon.
To fostering social cohesion and communal harmony along the Right of Way (R.o.W), KPC has for two consecutive years, sponsored the annual Thange Marathon; an exclusive event for the residents of Thange, in Makueni County. Participants are drawn from children, the elderly, people living with disabilities among others. KPC has also helped improve sporting infrastructure for communities and has rehabilitated Yokot Primary School Community sporting field.
Environmental Conservation
Over the past decade, Kenya, like the rest of the world, has and continues to experience the effect of climate change which is estimated to negatively impact the GDP by 3 – 5% annually.
Besides Covid-19, climate change is the major existential threat of our time, whose impact is already being felt on all facets of our lives, from the environment, economy, health, water supply, finance, security to agriculture. Kenya is vulnerable to climate change since the key drivers of the economy such as agriculture, livestock, tourism, forestry, transport, and fisheries, are climate sensitive.
It is against this background that KPC Foundation takes Environmental Conservation seriously.
Indeed, protection of environment in line with the government policies and international commitments under the Paris Agreement, that emphasize on building resilience and reducing vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
Kenya is heavily reliant on climate and is struggling to meet the 10% forest cover as stipulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to maintain the globally accepted ecological balance..
To address this challenge, KPC has partnered with Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and planted over 100,000 mangrove trees at the coast this year. Further, in collaboration with schools along our Right of Way (R.o.W) from Pump Station No. 2 (Samburu) to Pump Station No. 8 – (Konza), the company has planted over 20,000 seedlings.
Similarly, in a move to protect the environment from deforestation, the Company funded the fencing of Mount Kenya Forest through the Rhino Arch Foundation by donating over Kshs 18 million.
Emergencies and Disaster Response
KPC is always at the forefront in addressing national emergencies in the country. Whenever disasters strike, the company joins likeminded organizations to contribute towards such emergencies.
