The Laikipia County Government has disbursed Sh75 million in bursaries to benefit at least 15,000 bright and needy students across the county.
Governor Joshua Irungu, while issuing the cheques in Nanyuki, revealed that more than 19,000 students had applied for the funds, highlighting the growing demand for education support.
“I want to assure you that in the next financial budget, we will allocate Sh100 million for bursaries. The bursaries we are launching today will cover 15,000 students. If we expand the kitty, we will accommodate more than 20,000 students,” said Irungu.
The governor further disclosed that 65 students had been awarded full scholarships, with their education fully financed through to completion.
“We are giving 65 students full scholarships, and we will continue to give more. We encourage even the next regime to continue financing the education of those on scholarship until they complete their studies,” he added.
Irungu expressed regret over delays in the bursary disbursement, attributing the setback to a court injunction issued in January.
The injunction had been filed by Nicholas Lempaira, who challenged the implementation of the supplementary budget, citing a lack of public participation, failure to address public needs, and concerns over transparency.
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However, the case was recently dismissed by a court in Nanyuki, paving the way for the implementation of the 2025/2026 supplementary budget and subsequent release of the bursary funds.
The governor cautioned leaders against politicising development initiatives at the expense of residents, urging them to prioritise service delivery and community welfare.
By Kimutai Langat
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