The push to collapse all bursaries and consolidate them into a single fund to ensure free education for all children has gained momentum.
Governors are the latest lot to support the bid to ensure every child accesses free and quality education.
“It is a good idea. I don’t mind losing Sh600 million, provided all my children go to school,” Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said.
The county chief, who appeared before the Senate Education Committee to explain the status of ECDE and TVET education in his county, said his colleagues do not have a problem with the proposal to consolidate the funds.
“I would like to state that most governors have no problem with the bursaries being consolidated into one kitty if the funds are to be used to offer free education to all Kenyan students,” Ntutu said.
The development came amid a court order and a stern circular by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, warning the counties against the issuance of bursaries, saying it is not a devolved function.
The Senate has also ordered the counties to stop issuing bursaries, arguing it is not their function.
Currently, several players, including the governors, wards representatives, MPs, the Ministry of Education and the President, are issuing bursaries to needy students.
This has led to the uncoordinated issuance of bursaries that have been allocated multiple times to some students.
The revelation has triggered a push in Parliament to abolish all bursaries and establish a single fund.
The Senate is considering a motion by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, seeking to consolidate all the bursaries.
“In the 2024-25 financial year, about Sh656 billion was allocated to the education sector. However, it is difficult to ascertain the specific funds granted to each student,” he said.
Thang’wa argued a lack of transparency in the disbursement of bursaries from various agencies makes it challenging to determine the total amount allocated in a financial year, hindering efforts to ensure equitable access to education for financially disadvantaged students.
In Narok, Governor Ntutu said his administration has spent more than Sh1.3 billion in bursaries since he took over in 2022, with Sh600 million spent in the 2023-24 financial year alone.
Recently, Education CSJulius Ogamba admitted in the Senate that the ministry does not know how much money goes to bursaries across the country.
Thang’wa claimed the ministry has no data or framework to track how bursaries are distributed in the country.
He said there is bias and favouritism in the issuance of bursaries, and argued that citizens who do not vote for an MP often feel they have no right to receive bursary.
Ntutu defended the move by the counties to issue bursaries, saying were it not for their swift action, many children would have dropped out of school.
“In Narok, for example, in the first year, I issued Sh372.5 million that benefited 37,428 students, in the second year, I issued Sh400 million, benefiting Sh42116 students,” he said.
In the last financial year, the county gave out bursaries worth Sh600 million to Sh74,000 students.
He said a huge part of Narok is arid and many children drop out of school due to poverty; thus, the decision of his administration to support their education.
The county has constructed 283 ECDE classrooms across the county and equipped them with tables and chairs in the last three years to ensure quality learning.
He said his administration plans to hire 200 ECDE teachers in the next fiscal year to improve the teacher-student ratio.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The debate about the bursaries has dominated the scenes for several months now, after CoB Margaret Nyakang’o ordered governors to stop issuing bursaries. However, governors have defended their actions, saying they are filling a void. MPs, the Ministry of Education and the presidency also issue scholarships and bursaries. This has led to duplication, triggering a push to consolidate the bursaries.
by JULIUS OTIENO
