Over 1,000 students have benefitted from bursaries worth Ksh7,619,618 from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) kitty disbursed by Kiambu County Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha.
Speaking at her office in Kiambu sub-county, Wamuratha said that beneficiaries from secondary schools received Ksh8,000 each while beneficiaries from higher institutions of learning received Ksh10,000 each.
She regretted that Kenyans were struggling to raise money for school fees due to the high cost of living with many resulting to apply for bursary funds.
“It is not the wish of Kenyans to come and look for bursaries, it is the high cost of living that has pushed them,” she said.
Wamuratha opined that Kenyans are ready to pay taxes and urged the government to ensure that the collected revenue funds free education to ease the burden of school fees.
“Kenyans are not refusing to pay tax but they are more concerned over how it will be used. They do not want to be taxed and when they visit hospitals and other public institutions they are denied services,” she said.
Riabai MCA Hezron Gachui said that Kenyans are struggling and leaders should find solutions to ease the school fee burden and ensure needy and vulnerable students are catered for.
“The county government has set aside Ksh100 million for bursaries that will be disbursed next week and we urge Governor Kimani Wamatangi to also set aside money for Form 1 admission to assist parents who are unable to raise funds to enroll their children,” he said.
Winfred Wairimu, a beneficiary of the bursary, said that the government should reconsider making secondary education free entirely as some parents are unable to raise school fees completely.
Another beneficiary, Jane Njeri, said that the high cost of living has taken a toll on many families and the government should intervene and pay for them to prevent students from dropping out of school.
By Felix Wanderi
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