By Fredrick Odiero
Kisumu county government has disbursed bursaries and scholarships worth Sh250 million to needy students in the 2020/21 financial year, Governor Anyang Nyong’o announced.
The governor said the funds have been given to needy and bright students in universities, tertiary colleges and secondary schools.
He was speaking during the handing over of the Sh44.2 million cheque to the Kisumu Education Fund marking the final batch of bursaries for the financial year 2020/21.
The fund launch targets to benefit more than 28,000 students from the county amongst them students set to join Kenya Railway institute Marine training school in Kisumu.
The county will sponsor two students, a male and female from each of the 35 wards to the Marine school.
The governor noted that plans are underway for the automation of the bursary and scholarship process for purposes of efficiency.
He was accompanied by Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili and education executive John Awiti among other executive members.
Awiti said the selection process was fair and transparent.
Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said the selection of beneficiaries was aboveboard.
“Applicants are diligently scrutinized by non-partisan ward bursary committees, who in turn send the evaluation forms to the county’s department of education,” he said.
Owili said the county has put in place committees to look into any complaints or grievances and appealed to beneficiaries to study hard and fulfill their dreams.
In January, the countydisbursedSh57million as scholarships to 1,260 beneficiaries in universities and driving schools.
Owili said these bursaries and scholarships have changed the lives of many needy students who have been desperately seeking assistance to enable them to pursue their education.
“We are not stopping here, because our children must go to schools and become the cornerstone of this great county.”
Last year, the county launched the disbursement of Sh 68.4 million for bursaries and scholarships to 9,629 beneficiaries.
The fund benefited secondary, university and driving school students across the county with Sh12.6 million going towards scholarships Sh 27.6 million and Sh14.8 million for university fees.
