- Hundreds of vulnerable learners across Kiambu County have benefited from KSh14 million in NGAAF bursaries.
- The programme targets orphans, learners with disabilities and students from low-income families.
- Leaders have called for increased funding to support more deserving students struggling with school fees.
Hundreds of needy students across Kiambu County have received a lifeline after the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) disbursed bursary cheques worth KSh14 million, easing the burden of school fees for vulnerable families and enabling learners to remain in school.
The bursary programme, spearheaded by Kiambu County Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha, benefited students drawn from all the county’s 12 constituencies, with 900 bursary forms issued to deserving applicants.
The initiative primarily targeted learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, including orphans, children living with disabilities and students from low-income households.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, officials from the Kiambu NGAAF office said demand for bursary support continues to outstrip the available resources, prompting calls for increased funding to enable more deserving learners to benefit.
Office Assistant Anita Nungari said the KSh14 million allocation had been shared across all constituencies but acknowledged that many needy students were still awaiting assistance because of limited funds.
“The applications we receive are far more than the available bursary allocation. We rely on NGAAF board members in every sub-county to identify the most deserving beneficiaries, particularly orphans, learners with disabilities and students from vulnerable families. We hope that more funding will be allocated so that we can reach many more children,” she said.
She added that students who were not accommodated under the current bursary allocation would be considered for scholarship programmes, with the most vulnerable learners receiving continued support until they complete their education.
Relief for vulnerable learners
Beneficiaries welcomed the programme, saying it had shielded them from repeated interruptions to their education caused by unpaid school fees.
Several students said the financial support had prevented them from being sent home, allowing them to remain in class and focus on their studies.
They noted that many parents continue to struggle with the rising cost of education and described the bursary as a timely intervention that has restored hope to vulnerable families.
Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that the neediest learners remain the first beneficiaries of the NGAAF education fund.
She said the bursary programme is intended to ensure that no deserving learner misses education because of financial hardship.
“I encourage all the students who have benefited from this bursary to concentrate on their studies, work hard and improve their grades. Education remains the surest path to transforming your future, and we will continue supporting those who genuinely need assistance,” she said.
Call for transparency
Besides bursary awards, the Woman Representative’s office also provides additional financial support for other education-related expenses.
Day scholars receive KSh5,000, while boarding school students, university learners and students living with disabilities each receive KSh10,000 to supplement their educational needs.
Officials, however, expressed concern over the misuse of application forms by some applicants who photocopy serialised bursary forms, creating verification challenges during the selection process.
They urged applicants to follow the official application procedures to promote transparency and fairness in the allocation of bursary funds.
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Education stakeholders have welcomed the continued investment in bursary programmes, noting that such initiatives play a vital role in improving school retention and ensuring that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are not denied access to education because of financial constraints.
By Felix Wanderi
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