Likoni students benefit from Ksh75 Million bursary as MP Mishi calls out principals

A total of 12,184 secondary schools, tertiary institutions, universities and Grade 10 students in Likoni, Mombasa County have received bursaries worth Ksh75 million, offering critical relief to families struggling to meet school fees amid a national education funding strain.

The bursary distribution, conducted on Saturday, February 14, at Mwahima Stadium, comes at a time when thousands of students across the country, particularly those transitioning to Grade 10, have been unable to report to school due to financial hardship.

The bursary intervention is expected to ease the pressure and enable students to resume learning without interruption.

Area MP Mishi Mboko said the programme was part of a deliberate effort to ensure no child misses school because their family cannot raise fees.

She noted that while the county government is supporting food programmes in secondary schools, her office is complementing the effort through bursaries to cushion vulnerable households.

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“The governor is supporting food programmes in secondary schools, and I am giving bursaries so that no student is left behind for lack of school fees,” she said.

The legislator criticized school principals who continue to send students home over unpaid fees, saying the practice is unnecessary and harmful during tough economic times.

She urged school heads to reach out to leaders for support rather than turning learners away.

Mboko said the constituency’s education agenda is aimed at levelling the playing field between children from wealthy families and those from low-income backgrounds, stressing that education must remain a bridge out of poverty and not a privilege for the few.

She added that the bursary programme forms part of a broader commitment to expand education opportunities, including pushing for the employment of more teachers, constructing new classrooms and strengthening local TVET institutions to open pathways for youth skills development.

She further urged school principals to step up academic performance, noting that with learners receiving bursary support and schools equipped with improved infrastructure, the community now expects stronger, more consistent results.

Likoni Sub-County Secondary Schools Heads Association chairperson Christine Ndara confirmed that schools have already received food supplies from the county government, helping stabilize learning.

She commended the MP’s efforts in transforming the sector and assured that principals are committed to improving academic performance to ensure accountability for public funds.

By Shaban Omar