Chepchabas: In a bold move to catalyze grassroots development, the Finlays Community Trust (FCT) has pledged Sh9 million towards a high-impact community project in Chepchabas Ward, Bomet County. The announcement was made during a strategic engagement session between the Trust and local residents, underscoring the Trust's continued commitment to the empowerment of rural communities through education, health, and skills development.
According to Kenya News Agency, the pledge was unveiled by Sammy Kirui, Head of the Trust's Secretariat and General Manager for Corporate Affairs at Browns Plantations Kenya, accompanied by Ambassador Joshua Terer, a Trustee representing Bomet and Kericho counties. Speaking at Chepchabas, Kirui stated that Finlays Trust believes in sustainable development of the surrounding communities away from the normal donations they have been into.
The community has been given a one-week window to identify and submit a priority project proposal in one of four key sectors: technical and vocational education and training (TVET), health, secondary education, or expansion of primary education. The chosen project, according to Finalys Ambassador Terer, must be implementable within 12 months, a condition that paves the way for additional corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments from the Trust in future cycles.
Terer lauded the initiative as a landmark moment in the Trust's ongoing mission to drive community-led development. Chepchabas Ward Member of County Assembly, Kiprotich Wesley, expressed gratitude for the Trust's continued focus on the ward, citing previous projects as proof of FCT's unwavering support for such a time.
The latest commitment adds to a growing list of transformative initiatives funded by the Trust in Chepchabas, including a twin science laboratory at Chepchabas Secondary School, the establishment of Chemasingi and Marinyin secondary schools, and major upgrades at Chepchabas Sub-County Hospital. The Trust also runs an extensive scholarship programme that supports students from secondary school through to university, alongside mentorship initiatives that reach thousands annually.
Since its inception, Finlays Community Trust has implemented more than 79 projects across Bomet and Kericho counties, impacting over 17,000 students each year. Over 1,079 students have received scholarships through the Trust, with an additional 12,000 youth benefiting from its mentorship programmes.