More than 60,000 secondary school students from poor families and orphans in Kisii County have been awarded Ksh167 million in bursaries to fund their education.
Governor Simba Arati said the fund is part of Ksh245 million allocated to students this year, which was increased from Ksh135 million for the county’s 45 Wards.
He said each Ward has been allocated Ksh5 million up from 3 million, noting that the money has been disbursed to learners in forms two to four amounting to Ksh167,176,000.
“We have begun to process and the exercise will be finalized next month,” Arati said when he issued the cheques to some students from Kiogoro, Bobaracho, Kitutu Central, Kisii central and Bogiakumu Wards.
Ward representatives said that the governor will supervise the exercise in their respective Wards, adding that each student will be given a cheque to curb graft.
He cited an incident where a student was given two cheques, the parent and a school bursar colluded, cancelled one and shared the money, terming it fraud and unacceptable.
Governor Arati said the cheques were supposed to be given in first term but some MCAs stopped the Controller of Budget (COB) from approving the budget due to selfish interests.
“I know some students were sent home due to lack of fees and apologize for the delay. I urge the MCAs who stopped the release of the funds to apologize to members of the public,” Arati said.
Education Executive Committee Member (CECM) Daniel Ondabu, County Assembly Speaker Dr Philip Nyanumba and his deputy Jacob Bagaka, Majority Leader Henry Moracha, majority Chief Whip John Ombati, Minority Leader Dennis Ombachi, and County Public Service Board chairman Elijah Obebo accompanied him.
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By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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