Congratulations 2013 Equity Bank Scholars
for joining top global universities
18
scholars in the Equity Bank University Sponsorship & Leadership Programme have so far received
scholarships in 2013 by world leading universities to pursue various courses of study. This brings the
total number of Equity scholars who studied or are studying abroad to 89.
The Equity Bank University Sponsorship and Leadership Programme rewards the top performing boy and
girl in KCSE in every district where the Bank has a branch, by offering them an opportunity to intern at Equity
Bank before they join university.
The programme was rolled out in 1998 with the aim of empowering young academically gifted scholars by
supporting their access to education in public universities in Kenya, as well as equipping them with leadership
skills. The objective is to develop a generation that will think globally, be inspired to fight poverty in the African
continent, embrace sustainable development, improve living standards and coexist peacefully as a people while
being fully committed to giving back to society. So far, the program has benefited more than 1,550 scholars who
have interned at Equity Bank before joining the universities and also during university holidays.
Albert Wandui
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2011
Stanford University/Northwestern University
Former student Moi High School - Kabarak
Albert was school captain in his final year of high school and
graduated as the best student in the country in the 2010 KCSE
exam. Even as he joined Equity Bank as an intern, he worked
for Opinion Kenya, an online careers networking and mentoring
platform, as Director of Mentoring. Albert also participates in
a youth counseling program at his local church where they advise teens joining high school on
school life, career and study options.
Equity Bank believes that the true value of the scholarship and education in general, goes beyond the
classroom. There is a rich diversity amongst the network of Equity Scholars – a melting-pot of experiences,
backgrounds and ambitions – which inspires and motivates the scholars beyond the capacity of a traditional
education. By exposing these scholars to a global network of resources and opportunities, Equity Bank believes
they will be able to actualize their potential in whatever careers they choose to pursue.
Various universities where the scholars have received scholarships include: Harvard University which has
taken 14 scholars, Yale University which has 7, University of Pennsylvania which has 4, Cornell University
with 4 scholars and Brown University with 3. Other Universities include: Amherst College, Bowdoin College,
Cambridge University (UK), Columbia University, Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Middlebury College, Seoul National University (South Korea), Smith College, Stanford University, Swarthmore
College, University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Manchester (UK), Princeton University, Williams
College, Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and Ashesi University in Ghana.
Elsie Akinyi Odhiambo
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Smith College
Former student Kisumu Girls High School
Elsie was ranked best girl in Nyanza Province and 66th best girl
in the country. She enjoyed all subjects in high school uniformly,
and managed to get certificates for ‘best in subject’ across all the
subjects- Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business
and Geography. Elsie also participated in Science Congress. She
played hockey and took her team to the provincial level, where she won a certificate of excellence.
Stephen Laboso
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Cornell University/ Vassar College/ Wesleyan University
Former student Sacho High School
Stephen was the best boy in Baringo County in the 2011 KCSE
examinations. He was the Football Captain in his high school. He
is a member of Pioneer Football Club in Eldoret town. Stephen,
who is also a KenSAP scholar, enjoys singing and took part in the
music and cultural festivals, where his choir made it to the national levels.
Anthony Kariuki
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2011
Brown University
Former student Nairobi School
Anthony was the 21st best student in the country in the 2011
KCSE. At school he served as the Library Prefect and the captain
of the school’s lawn tennis team. He presented Physics talk up to
national level competitions in the Annual Science Congress and
was a member of the school choir for three years. He still sings
and is a member of University of Nairobi’s St. Paul’s Chapel Choir.
Beatrice Kemboi
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Michigan State University
Former student Sing’ore Girls High School
Beatrice, an EaSAP scholar, joined Sing’ ore Girls High school
in 2008. While in high school, she participated in a variety of
activities including field hockey and handball. She was also the
chairlady of the History club and a leader of the Mathematics
team in her class. Currently, she serves as the Youth Secretary
of her church were she organizes rallies and youth meetings as well as mentorship seminars
aimed at benefitting society as a whole. She attributes a large part of her success to her high
school counselor, who motivated her in her darkest hours. Beatrice aspires to study Economics
at Michigan State University.
Clinton Kebiro
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2011
University of Pennsylvania
Former student Maseno High School
Clinton was the 20th best student at the national level in the
2011 KCSE examinations. He has always had a passion for
mathematics, and won several math contests while still in high
school. He won the Iten Math Contest three years in a row from
Form 2- Form 4. He also led the school to the national levels in
the Maths Olympiad. Clinton served as the Dormitory Prefect in his third and fourth year of high
school. He started a theatre group in his home area Kajiado, shortly after completing his high
school education. He also serves as an active member of The Red Cross Society. Clinton aspires
to study Electrical Engineering.
Brenda Wacuka Njoroge
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Connecticut/Smith College
Former student Precious Blood Riruta
Brenda is passionate about Arts; in only her first year at Precious
Blood, she played the lead role in a Christmas concert. She also
started the Dance Society in the same school. Based on her hard
work and academic performance, she won a trip to Germany in
her second year of high school. Brenda was also the Editor-inChief of her school paper. To date, Brenda still takes part in plays, a passion she greatly enjoys.
Charity Karanja
Age: 20 Years | Year Joined: 2011
Cornell University
Former student Mahiga Girls
Charity was very active in her high school years. She was the
Class Representative for both Mathematics and Geography; she
was also the class prefect from form two to form four, chaired the
Geography club and was Vice Chairlady for the Kiswahili Club as
well as the Treasurer for the Environmental Club. Charity enjoys
and plays Table Tennis. She aims to study Applied Mathematics and Economics.
Brian Ng’ethe Kamau
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Cornell University
Former student St. Patrick’s High School
Brian attended St. Patrick’s Senior School on a merit scholarship.
He was a Dormitory Captain, the Games Captain, a Library Prefect,
the Science Club Chairman and a member of the Math Club. He
also worked as a peer counselor, driven by his commitment to
community development. His passion for engineering began at an
early age; Brian once worked as a stone mason apprentice, eager to participate in all activities
related to engineering. He aims to study Engineering.
Diana Mong’are
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Duke University/ Williams College/ Yale University/ University of
Pennsylvania (Huntsman Program)
Former student Kenya High School
Diana was ranked 12th nationally in the 2011 KCSE examinations.
She participated in the Drama Festivals up to national level and
also participated in beauty pageants, where she won the beauty
pageants at her school two years in a row. Her passion for math
also saw her win a National Math Contest where she received a scholarship to study Financial
Economics at Strathmore University. In 2012, Diana participated in the Anzisha Competition for
young entrepreneurs across Africa, where she won 1st Runners Up Prize of $20,000 for her
business that focuses on recycling of waste material.
Victoria Koin
Age: 20 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Northwestern University/ Meredith College/ Vassar College
Former student St. Clare Girls
Victoria, a Zawadi scholar, comes from Loitokitok District, where
she was ranked 1st position in the 2011 KCSE Examinations.
Victoria served as the Dormitory Prefect in her school in form 1 and
form 2 and the Vice Chairperson of the Student Council in her third
and final year. Accepted in three different colleges of international repute, Victoria hopes to study
Aerospace Engineering at Northwestern University, which was her first choice.
W
Message
from Equity
Bank Group
CEO & MD
Victor Gitau
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Yale University
Former student Alliance High School
Victor was ranked position 2 nationally in the 2011 KCSE
Examinations. He was the Sports Captain, and played in the Rugby
Team, a sport he enjoys till today. His good character and strong
academic performance led him to be selected for a 2 month
Exchange Programme in the USA. Victor aspires to study Bio-Medical Engineering at Yale University.
e are proud to witness another group of students being airlifted to leading world
universities after a year’s mentorship among 260 other gifted scholars admitted to the
Equity Bank University Sponsorship Program this year.
The Bank believes that by getting quality education along some of the best brains in the
world, these scholars will get global exposure, access to education resources and enhance
their leadership skills, in readiness to come back and contribute in shaping the social economic
development of Africa.
The programme assists scholars to prepare for the SAT tests applications and help them
consider their strengths and ambitions, select colleges at which they would thrive. The
scholarship is intended to create future leadership and since it is a natural selection method of
the best in society, chance is that they will end up in leadership. By the year 2030, the students
Job Nalianya
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Stanford University
Former student St. Peter’s Seminary
Job was the top boy nationally in the 2011 KCSE examinations.
During his high school years, he also served as the Academics
Master, Chairman of the Math Club and was also the Club
Secretary of The Young Catholic Students Association. Job is passionate about planting of trees.
He is currently a member of the Chess Club in his church parish. He would like to study Electrical
and Computer Engineering.
Job Nyaosi
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Harvard University
Former student Molo Academy
Job was ranked 28th nationally in the 2011 KCSE examinations.
He served as the Deputy School Captain, Chairman of the
Research Club and Captain of the school’s Basketball Team. He
also played volleyball and handball competitively. Job maintained a vegetable garden to help raise
money for his school fees. Job would like to study Computer Engineering
Kelvin Muriuki
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Harvard University/ Williams College/ Cornell University
Former student Karima Boys Secondary School
Kelvin was the best overall student in his school. He earned
multiple certificates for “best in subject”. Kelvin is passionate
about environmental conservation. He was the chairman for the
International Climate Change program. In his tenure as chairman, the program won a golden
award for the most innovative project. Kelvin is also an avid reader and writer. He would like to
pursue a degree in Bio-medical Engineering.
Lavender Otieno
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Cambridge University (UK)
Former student Starehe Girls
Lavender participated in a number of extra-curricular activities
and leadership positions in her high school years. She was the
Entertainment Prefect in her senior years. She is also quite
talented in performing arts and served as the School Poet for four
years. Lavender also served as the Christian Union Vice Chairlady
and the Girl Guide Parade Commander. After high school, Lavender was elected the Governor
for the Global Give-Back circle. At Cambridge, Lavender aspires to study Natural Sciences, with
a bias to Physics.
Leonard Ngetich
Age: 19 Years | Year Joined: 2012
Ashesi University
Former student Tenwek High School
Leonard enjoyed Math in school and participated in several
contests held across different parts of the country. He was
the Chairman of Wildlife Club. Leonard enjoyed athletics and
participated in several races at an inter-school and district level.
Dr. Benson Chuma
Age: 29 Years | Year Joined: 2002
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of
Surgery, University of Nairobi
Former student Nyeri High School
Admission: Master of Public Health (Health Economics),
University of Cape Town
Previous Roles: Health Programs Manager (Equity Group.
Foundation), Medical Superintendent (Ministry of Health)
Dr. Chuma became an Equity Scholar in 2002, having been the top student in 2001 KCSE in
Nyeri District. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2008 with a Bachelor of Medicine
and Bachelor of Surgery degree. He joined the Equity Group Foundation in 2011 and worked at
the Health Pillar where he played a pivotal role in the research and design of the Health Pillar’s
strategy aimed at improving health outcomes in the region through innovative health financing
mechanisms complimented by rapid delivery of quality health services. His study at University of
Cape Town is supported by a scholarship from HTAi, a Canadian-based organization.
will have finished their university education and we believe that they will be greatly exposed and
will be taking leadership roles in various disciplines in the society.
Diversity and a global integration is what we are seeking to drive socio-economic
empowerment of our people. As we send off the scholars, we urge them to take advantage
of the sponsorship by seeing how the diversity in the global context can impact positively to the
socio-economic empowerment of not only Kenya but Africa at large.
We urge them to be women and men who can be relied upon and demonstrate that they
were worth the sponsorship. We are looking up to these scholars as our ambassadors out there
and leaders of the African continent. We are proud to say that these scholars will be agents
of change in the economic and social state of Africa, so as to solve the African paradox of a
continent endowed with resources, human capital and yet weighed down by abject poverty.