Over 9,000 Murang’a learners have benefitted from bursaries from the county government following approval by the Controller of Budget.
The county was embroiled in a tussle with the Controller of Budget for months over the failure to approve the bursaries funds earlier this year.
On January 5, CoB issued a circular that stopped county governments from disbursing bursaries to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, arguing it is a function of the national government.
The Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o then clarified on January 14 that counties needed to either establish independent bursary funds or enter into Intergovernmental Participation Agreements with the Ministry of Education to continue supporting students.
On February 13, the county government unsuccessfully wrote to CoB requesting authorisation to withdraw Sh15 million for the bursary programme.
“Any requisition for withdrawal of bursary funds to perform functions categorised as national government functions must be accompanied by the requisite intergovernmental agreement as prescribed by law,” Nyakang’o told counties.
The county however became the first to issue the bursaries after Nyakang’o gave counties the go-ahead through a memorandum of understanding.
The county issued bursaries amounting to Sh50 million to over 9,000 students for the second term.
Under the Inua Masomo programme that targets day secondary school learners, top 10 performers in all schools are supported, encouraging competition among students.
It also offers support to over 7,000 needy day secondary school learners each term with the aim of making education accessible to all.
“This programme ensures bursary funds are retained in the county which strengthens the local economy,” the governor said.
Kang’ata said a number of students also benefit through the Nyota Zetu programme that supports boarding school learners and that many persons with disabilities and orphans are also covered.
“We fought hard for these bursaries and if there’s anybody whose feet we stepped on in the process, we apologise,” he said.
Kang’ata on February 28 filed an application at the Nakuru High Court seeking to have Nyakang’o jailed for six months over contempt of court.
Kang’ata told the court that thousands of students depended on bursaries to access education and that their status is currently in limbo following the CoB’s decision to disregard court orders to approve bursaries.
“The issue was that counties shouldn’t disburse bursaries because it’s a reserve of the national government but we insisted that we needed to be given a warning before the bursaries were stopped”.
He noted that the funds supports many day secondary schools that struggle with delayed disbursement of capitation by the government.
