Kericho County has disbursed close to Ksh170 million as bursaries to secondary schools, colleges and universities.
Officiating the distribution, County Governor Dr Erick Mutai said the funds were largely targeted at the less fortunate and the financially challenged in society.
“The fund will benefit orphans who will be given Ksh10,000. As a caring government we are coming to wipe the tears of the orphans and plant a smile on their faces,” the governor said.
Dr Mutai said the system of bursary disbursement had been streamlined and the laws governing it aligned with relevant laws. He said the funds were to be wired directly to school accounts to reduce chances of impropriety.
Dr Mutai challenged fellow leaders in various capacities to come up with programmes that will alleviate challenges being faced by the youth in the country.
“What are you going to do for the youth so that their future can be bright and fruitful?” he posed.
During the same function the governor also launched the Equalizer Vocational Training Programme that will benefit 100 youth from each Ward. The youth will undergo training in various courses of their choice at the local vocational training colleges.
He was speaking at the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium when he launched the bursary programme, accompanied by governors James Orengo of Siaya, Dr Hilary Barchok of Bomet and Stephen Sang of Nandi, and Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili.
Orengo lauded the launch of the bursary fund, saying it will benefit bright children from poor background to access education.
The governor said development issues had no political boundaries and thanked the Kericho governor for according him the honour of gracing the function.
Senator Aron Cheruiyot said the government was putting more emphasis on skills acquisition and urged parents to enroll their school leavers in TVETs in their localities.
He said almost 60 per cent of the candidates who sat the 2023 KCSE will not get university places, and therefore should consider joining these colleges to gain the relevant skills, which are in high demand in the job market both locally and globally.
By Benedict Ngetich
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