A total of 2,243 needy students in Garissa will not miss school after Governor Ali Korane on Tuesday launched the Sh60 million County Scholarship Fund.
Korane has directed the scholarship committee to conduct interviews in public for transparency and accountability.
The governor, who was speaking at the Garissa library yesterday, said the beneficiaries are from Hulugho, Lagdera, Dadaab, Fafi, Balambala, Ijara and Township.
However, some of the beneficiaries complained that the allocation per institution was "too little" and might not make much difference.
Abdullahi Hussein, a clinical student at the Kenya Medical Training College said his fees per year totalled Sh140,000 and would only get Sh15,000.
The governor blamed drought for many families' inability to raise fees since their livestock have been wiped out.
He said his administration will increase the kitty from Sh60 million to Sh100 million annually.
"As we double our efforts to enhance the delivery of the devolved services under our mandate, I call on the residents to shun ethnic politics and unnecessary land feuds as there are plenty resources in our expansive county," Korane said.
“The committee tasked with identifying the needy cases and allocation of the bursary should operate above board by ensuring no needy student is left out,” he said.
The governor asked students to pursue relevant and competitive courses.
He regretted that the majority of those who go to colleges and universities in Garissa take simple courses such as conflict resolution and community development, which, in many instances, have little attraction in the job market.
The governor said an audit of the number of students in the institutions of higher learning will be done so that the scholarship budget is reviewed.
The county bursary fund is meant to complement the National Government Constituency Development Fund.