Finlays Community Trust (FCT), in partnership with the Belgut Marathon Fund, has delivered a modern KSh 10.49 million multi-purpose hall and kitchen complex at Belgut Starehe Girls Centre in Kericho County. The facility is designed to strengthen the school’s learning environment while also serving as a shared community resource for Kapsuser Ward and surrounding areas. This reinforces the Trust’s commitment to education infrastructure development and community empowerment across Kenya.
The project was made possible through a collaborative funding model that reflects strong community partnership. Finlays Community Trust contributed KSh 8 million towards construction, while the Belgut Marathon Fund raised an additional KSh 2.49 million. This partnership demonstrates a growing model of shared investment in education infrastructure, where communities and development partners work together to deliver sustainable, long-term impact.
The newly completed facility has a seating capacity of 720 people and has been designed as a multi-functional space to support both academic and social needs. It will be used for student dining, school assemblies, examinations, and community gatherings. This directly addresses long-standing space constraints at Belgut Starehe Girls Centre, which serves more than 380 learners. Beyond its school use, the hall also functions as a community development asset for meetings, events, and local initiatives within the wider ward.
This investment forms part of Finlays Community Trust’s broader education infrastructure programme across Kericho and Bomet counties, where the Trust has implemented 81 community development projects to date. These include a fully equipped secondary school, 18 classrooms, 20 science laboratories, 14 libraries, five dormitories, and 10 institutional facilities such as dining halls, multi-purpose halls, and learning resource centres. Collectively, these investments support more than 17,000 learners daily across 55 wards and continue to improve access to quality education and safe learning environments.
By improving access to modern and functional school infrastructure, Finlays Community Trust supports better student retention, improved academic performance, enhanced learner wellbeing, and expanded opportunities for young people. The Trust’s education-led development model ensures that infrastructure investment translates into measurable social and educational outcomes in the communities it serves.
In addition to infrastructure development, Finlays Community Trust continues to invest in human capital through targeted scholarship programmes that support access to secondary, technical, and university education. To date, more than 1,100 students have benefited from these initiatives. This includes 606 secondary school students, 80 TVET students, and 456 university students. These scholarships play a critical role in enabling bright and deserving learners to continue their education and pursue meaningful career pathways.
Beyond education, the Trust also invests in clean water access, healthcare, and community infrastructure. This reinforces a holistic and sustainable development approach across Kericho and Bomet counties. Through these integrated investments, Finlays Community Trust continues to create long-term shared value by improving livelihoods, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunities for future generations.
