- Governor Fernandes Barasa has announced an expanded education support programme, with the Barasa Jamii Scholarship entering its fifth cohort and having supported 333 students at Sh254 million since 2022.
- Barasa has opened applications for the Kakamega County Revolving Fund and Afya Elimu Fund, backed by an initial Sh100 million seed investment, with applications running from August 17 to 31 via the HEF Students’ Portal.
Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa has announced an expanded education support programme targeting students from underprivileged families through scholarships, bursaries and revolving funds.
Governor Barasa said education remains a key pillar of his administration’s Six-Point Agenda, and the county government is working to ensure financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from pursuing their studies.
Speaking on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the 2026 Barasa Jamii Scholarship Awards at Golf Hotel in Kakamega, the governor said the scholarship programme had entered its fifth cohort in partnership with ACESS Kenya.
Since its inception in 2022, the programme has supported 333 students at a cumulative cost of Sh254 million.
This year, 89 bright students from across Kakamega County received full scholarships valued at Sh54 million. The beneficiaries, drawn from disadvantaged backgrounds, are pursuing various courses in institutions of higher learning across the country.
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Governor Barasa also disclosed that the county disbursed Sh180 million in bursaries during the last financial year, benefiting 47,793 students.
Of the amount, Sh150 million was allocated to secondary school students, while Sh30 million supported learners in county polytechnics.
The governor said his administration was further widening access to higher and medical education through the Kakamega County Revolving Fund and Afya Elimu Fund.
He announced that applications for the 2026/2027 financial year opened on August 17 and will close on August 31, with the programmes receiving an initial seed investment of Sh100 million.
Eligible students have been urged to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Students’ Portal before the deadline.
Governor Barasa said the expanded funding programmes were intended to complement existing national education financing initiatives and provide additional support to students facing financial challenges.
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The scholarship awards ceremony brought together senior county officials and education stakeholders, including ACESS Kenya Country Director Dr Antony Mutevane, County Executive Committee Member for Education Dr Benard Amwayi, County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr Lawrence Omuhaka, and other county government officials.
The governor said continued investment in education was critical to empowering young people with skills and knowledge needed to contribute to Kakamega’s socio-economic development.
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