Embu governor Cecily Mbarire has launched the distribution of bursaries worth Sh 102 million to needy students in secondary schools and vocational colleges.
While speaking during the launch of the bursaries in Embu town the governor said that 34, 435 students benefited from the bursary kitty out of 40,000 students who had applied.
Out of these 8, 706 students were from boarding and day secondary schools 321 were from special schools and 1,547 were from Vocational Training Centres.
Day secondary schools received a total of Sh 59,186,019 million, boarding secondary schools Sh 26, 192, 381 , with special schools receiving Sh 1,638,000 and Vocational Training Centres Sh 8,292,100.
Mbarire lauded the county bursary committee that was tasked to identify the beneficiaries saying that the process was free and fair and she did not get complaints from any quarter over irregularities in issuance.
”The reason why we started an online bursary application is because we wanted fairness where every child has an equal opportunity to benefit from this bursary,” Mbarire said.
The bursaries are aimed at enabling children from poor backgrounds to remain in school after enrolment for better learning.
“We remain committed to supporting the education of the children in the county, the improvement of academic performance, and ultimately, the lives of the youth in the county,” she said, “The future of our country depends on the children,” she added.
The county boss said that she will square all her arsenal to see an increase in the bursary kitty so that many students can be reached.
Mbarire noted that the bursaries will go a long way in lessening the burden of school fees on parents, many of whom are facing challenges due to the biting high cost of living.
She further urged the principals to ensure that they issue receipts to the county government for the money they have receipts for accountability.
Embu deputy governor Kinyua Mugo said this year’s disbursement is the largest compared to the previous years’ where slightly above Sh 100 million was collectively disbursed by the previous regime saying students from a poor background will have a chance to learn.
Kirimari ward Member of the County Assembly said education was only the lifetime investment that someone can give children lauding the governor for ensuring fairness in the distribution of the bursaries.
He said all the proposals on education that will land in the county assembly as legislators will support it to the full effect.
”I want to assure the governor that we are behind him on matters of education and any support that she needs us to do in the assembly, we shall be there for it,” he said.
Embu county bursary committee chairman Patrick Kamau said that only needy students were awarded the bursary since the system for the application only singled out the needy.
He stated that the bursary will enhance the retention of learners in school.
By Brian Malila
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