Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has officially announced the resumption of the bursary scheme to support bright needy secondary school and college students.
This development follows a new memorandum of understanding signed between the Council of Governors and the National Government, which allows county governments to disburse bursaries to students from underprivileged backgrounds once again.
The governor’s announcement comes after the disbursement of the bursary funds had been temporarily suspended in January this year.
The suspension followed a directive from the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, who stated that the provision of bursaries was the sole responsibility of the National Government.
However, with the new agreement in place, county governments now have the green light to continue supporting education through bursaries.
Since the inception of the bursary program under the Elimu ni Sasa initiative in 2013, the Kwale County Government has supported thousands of students.
These include learners in secondary schools, universities, and vocational training institutions.
The program has been instrumental in ensuring that children from poor households can access education and are not left behind due to financial constraints.
Speaking during the launch of a water pipeline expansion project at Kasemeni in Kinango Sub-county, Achani reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to collaborating with the national government to ensure that bursary funds reach deserving residents across the county.
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“We had a court issue, but we have signed an agreement with the national government to allow us to continue disbursing bursaries,” she said.
She noted that the bursary disbursement would resume immediately after the county receives the allocated funds from the National Treasury.
The Governor further emphasised the transformative power of education in combating poverty and empowering communities.
“We have seen how education can change the future of a family and an entire community. That is why we have remained firm in our commitment to support the dreams of our children through this bursary program,” she said.
The county has set aside Sh 500 million every year to fund the education of needy children.
According to Achani, the substantial investment has helped bridge the inequality gap by ensuring that talented students from disadvantaged families have equal academic opportunities.
She said the bursary has reduced the financial burden on parents and guardians, especially in remote areas where education levels are traditionally low.
Achani said the program has had an impact. Many beneficiaries are now pursuing careers in teaching, medicine, engineering, and other fields and becoming role models in their communities.
The governor promised to continue the bursary program to uplift more students and foster a generation of educated, empowered, and self-reliant citizens.
By Omar Shaban
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