Blow for Malava needy students as MP says there is no money for bursaries

Bursary allocation for the learners from Malava constituency will not be disbursed in the near future due to lack of funds.

WATCH:

Parents and teachers have been asked to sit tight and await as the newly elected MP David Ndakwa consults and seeks clarity from the national government constituency fund (NG-CDF) board on how they can allocate some more funds to cater for the constituency bursary.

Out of the set aside Ksh50Million set towards bursaries from secondary tertiary and university levels it only Ksh 3.7Million worth of cash which is currently available.

Giving an address on the state of affairs at the Malava CDF office, MP Ndakwa expressed disappointment on how the CDF office led by the outgoing fund manager redirected the monies meant for bursaries to complete other projects initiated by the late MP Malulu Injendi with many of the incomplete and ongoing projects having been fully paid by the CDF office.

“I want to take this opportunity and ask the people of Malava to bear with us over the delayed bursary allocation as I have just come to learn that the kitty was indeed empty with funds meant to cater for learning of our children having been redirected to other projects initially started by the late MP. This has brought confusion in the CDF office. Already I have reached out to the (NG-CDF) board to seek explanation on the true scenario on the ground and why they should consider allocating fresh funds for bursaries.” Ndakwa said.

ALSO READ:

How TSC’s CPG rules migrated teachers from classroom to administration and buried them alive

He said it was wrong for the office to opt to fully pay for projects being constructed within schools as the learner was to utilize the infrastructure and fail to pay for bursary to allow them access the same facilities in their schools.

“Since the death of the MP, the Malava office in conjunction with the board has been running projects within and it is sad that the fund manager decided to fully pay even incomplete, un-commissioned and poor workmanship projects and brushed aside bursary leading to this delay” he noted.

The lawmaker added that the remaining funds which have delayed to be disbursed will be used to pay for the bursary applicants and assured the residents that his (2026/27) financial year allocation, 40% will be set aside to cater for bursaries.

“The bursary funds from the treasury always come in bits and sometimes delay. This will also affect our bursary allocation but I’m requesting the treasury through the (NG-CDF) board to give Malava priority it deserves,” he said

The MP also raised concern saying that since assuming the office, he has not been able to get the accurate financial report on the status of the constituency from the outgoing fund manager, alluding that he only learnt of the financial discrepancies form the incoming manager.

He said education remained his key commitment to the people of Malava and promised that no child will drop out of school due to lack of school fees.

ALSO READ:

Shock as thugs attack school guard, steal cow in night raid in Busia

According to the record, the constituency had a total of 19,957secondary school applicants with 8,200 Form Three and Four students applying from the constituency, 4,400 from sub-county schools as county schools had 10,000 applicants with 1,500 Form Three and Four from outside the constituency learning in national, extra county, county and sub county schools applying as persons living with disabilities (PWD’s) and special needs (213), partial orphans (667), non-locals (612).

The last 2024/25 financial year disbursement saw sub county learners getting Ksh2, 000 each, county and extra county Ksh2,500,national,colleges (PWD)’s and total orphans each getting Ksh 5,000

The constituency is allocated approximately Ksh 189Million each financial year.

BY WAKHUNGU ANDANJE