- Kisii County has earmarked Sh465 million for education programmes in the 2026/2027 budget.
- The allocation includes Sh315 million for bursaries and Sh150 million for a school feeding programme targeting early learners.
- County leaders say the investment will support learner retention, improve attendance and ease the financial burden on families.
Education is among the sectors that received the largest allocation in the Kisii County 2026/2027 Budget, with Sh465 million earmarked for programmes aimed at keeping learners in school and improving learning conditions for early childhood pupils.
According to Governor Simba Arati, who addressed Members of the County Assembly at Kisii Farmers Training Centre (FTC), the largest share of the allocation, Sh315 million, will go towards bursaries for needy students across the county’s 45 wards.
Each ward is expected to receive approximately Sh7 million to support learners in secondary schools, technical training institutions and tertiary colleges.
The bursary programme was relaunched this year after a three-year suspension and will be administered by the Kisii County Bursary Board.
School Feeding Programme
Another Sh150 million has been allocated to a school feeding programme targeting learners in PP1 to Grade 2.
The initiative is expected to improve nutrition, boost school attendance and enhance concentration among learners, particularly in schools serving low-income communities.
County Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Peter Otachi said the allocations demonstrate the county government’s commitment to reducing school dropouts and easing the financial burden on parents.
“We have allocated Sh315 million for bursaries, which will ensure that every ward receives about Sh7 million,” he said during the budget debate.
Most residents who spoke to Education News welcomed the budget, describing it as friendly to ordinary wananchi because it does not introduce additional taxes on trade and agriculture, the county’s main economic activities.
Part of Sh22 Billion Budget
The Sh465 million education allocation forms part of Kisii County’s Sh22 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The budget will be financed through Sh10.7 billion from the equitable share allocation, Sh1.27 billion in conditional grants and Sh3.71 billion in locally generated revenue.
Governor Arati called for cooperation among leaders and residents to improve livelihoods and accelerate development across the county.
He said education remains one of the most effective tools for fighting poverty and urged leaders to focus on service delivery rather than divisive politics.
County officials said the investment in bursaries and school feeding programmes directly supports the county’s efforts to achieve 100 per cent transition and learner retention under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
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They expressed confidence that the interventions will help more learners remain in school and successfully complete their education.
By Enock Okong’o
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