Principals in Malava constituency have been urged not to send students home over unpaid fees, as plans are underway to release bursary funds to all qualified applicants. Area MP David Ndakwa gave the assurance while addressing Form Four candidates and recent school leavers during the first-ever career fair workshop held at Friends Tande Secondary School.
Ndakwa told the gathering that schools hosting learners from the constituency would soon receive the bursary monies, noting that his office was working around the clock to resolve the stalemate. He explained that he had already engaged President William Ruto, who is expected to tour the region soon, and raised concerns about the management of the bursary funds.
According to the MP, the previous fund manager failed to disclose the exact balances in the accounts despite repeated requests, prompting his transfer. Ndakwa revealed that audit queries had been raised at the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office, and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) board had been asked to act urgently to release the remaining funds.
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He accused the former management of diverting 40 per cent of the bursary allocation amounting to Ksh 84 million towards payments for constituency projects, some of which were already fully paid but incomplete. Ndakwa alleged that the officials rushed to clear projects linked to the late former MP Malulu Injendi to secure kickbacks, taking advantage of the transition period before he assumed office.
“The CDF board has now given me the go-ahead to redirect those project funds back to bursaries. My priority is the education of our children, and I will not allow setbacks from the CDF office to derail that,” he said.
Ndakwa, who has made education a central pillar of his leadership, encouraged students to embrace competition and promised to continue visiting schools to uplift infrastructure and support top-performing learners. He pledged full sponsorship for outstanding students, particularly those pursuing medicine, citing the low doctor-to-patient ratio in Kenya.
Already, the MP has paid three years of school fees for two bright girls at Salvation Army Matioli Secondary School and commissioned a modern computer laboratory at the same institution, equipped with 35 laptops to facilitate online learning. On Friday, he also donated Ksh 500,000 to Namatala Girls Secondary School to support its development projects.
Teachers were urged to remain committed to empowering learners, with Ndakwa emphasising that their role in shaping the future of students was a noble duty.
At the career fair, Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Youth, Sports, Culture, Gender and Library Services, CPA Jackline Masicha, encouraged girls to seize the opportunities now available in education. She noted that the fair, which brought together universities and training institutions, offered guidance on academic pathways, technical training, and financing opportunities to help learners make informed career choices.
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“Gone are the days when girls were sidelined in education. Today, many of you are excelling in different fields. This career fair is meant to motivate and show you that despite vulnerable backgrounds, you can soar high and achieve your dreams,” she said.
Masicha said the sub-county had the potential to produce top-performing candidates and that the launch of the career guidance fair, where several universities and training institutions present, gave assurance and guidance on academic pathways, technical training and educational financing opportunities to enable them to make informed career choices, was the best way to set the ball rolling towards the right direction.
By Wakhungu Andanje
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