Over 1,000 secondary school students have been denied education bursaries in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega, allegedly because their parents are voters in other constituencies.
Area MP Titus Khamala said they had rejected applications from the students because the identity cards of their parents indicated that they were non-voters in Lurambi.
He said bursaries would strictly be disbursed to children whose parents or guardians vote in the largely cosmopolitan constituency.
“We have rejected over 1,000 applications from students whose parents do not vote in Lurambi. Every constituency in Kenya has its allocation of bursary funds and I urge them to benefit from where they cast their ballots at election time,” he said.
Bishop Khamala said the students in tertiary institutions who had attained the age of 18 should equally be voters in his constituency if they expect to benefit from the bursaries.
“I have no regrets about this decision because people should benefit from where they determine leadership. You cannot call Lurambi your home yet always vote in another constituency then still expect services from here,” he added.
The MP said the move will also help rein in some individuals who double-benefit from bursaries.
“There are people who apply for bursaries where they work or stay then still do the same where they vote then benefit from both. This must stop,” he added.
He urged the aggrieved applicants to try their luck where they or their parents and guardians vote.
“I, for instance, have forms from a place like Matungu, which I can talk to area MP Oscar (Nabulindo), who is my friend, to handle,” he said.
Khamala, who was speaking after overseeing conclusion of vetting of the application forms at the area NGCDF offices today, said any voter of Lurambi who had failed to apply for the bursaries now has another chance to do so in place of the rejected ones.
Lurambi Constituency covers Kakamega town which plays host to people from different parts of the county.
The decision is likely to cause a storm.
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By Denis Lumiti
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