Over 10,000 students in Isiolo to benefit from Sh35m bursary

Over 15,000 students in Isiolo are set to benefit from bursary funds despite education remaining a critical enabler in the fight against abject poverty in the county.

Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo on Wednesday launched the county's bursary and scholarship program worth Sh35 million for the targeted beneficiaries across the county.

Speaking during the launch, he said that his administration is also in the process of sourcing an additional Sh65 million for a bursary.

"I am committed to seeing no child is left behind in education. I will work closely with the national government, development partners, and other elected leaders to ensure all our children stay in school," he added.

 Over the years, issues such as culture and drought have substantially contributed to a huge number of school dropouts among learners in Isiolo.

On his part, Isiolo Deputy Governor James Lowasa noted that both levels of government should work together to ensure children stay in school.

However, he lamented that although the national government is supposed to fund secondary education, the amount disbursed can not meet the high demand.

"Over the years, this has forced the county government to draw financial resources meant for ECDE to be allocated as a bursary for other levels of government," Lowasa noted.

Add relation to that, the DG however requested school principals not to send children home for school fees, reminding them that the drought has affected their parents' sources of income.

"I am pleading with all our principals not to send learners that will not benefit from today's bursary home. Let us be considerate, the current drought has adversely affected the economic status of most parents," Lowasa added.

Speaking during the event, Isiolo County Assembly Speaker  Mohamed Roba Qoto observed that members of the assembly are ready to enact legislation that will increase the amount currently allocated for a bursary to better amounts.

He cited that hazards like the current drought have negatively affected the livelihoods of several residents in the process jeopardizing the education of students.

"As the legislators of this great county, we are ready to work with the County Executive by passing legislation that will increase the amount allocated for a bursary. We want more of our children to benefit," Roba said.