Thousands of learners from poor backgrounds who depend on National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) bursaries to pay school fees risk being turned away from schools.
According to a section of lawmakers, the National Treasury has not released the monies despite the pledge by President Ruto to have the funds released before schools reopen this January.
The over 20 MPs are now threatening to impeach Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung’u if the funds are not disbursed within seven days.
The MPS who held a press conference at the Parliament buildings pointed out that CS Ndung’u made false statements regarding the release of the funds that made beneficiaries believe the MPs were withholding the funds.
The CS had also communicated with Speaker Moses Wetangula, assuring him that the NG-CDF funds would be fully released by December 20, 2023 but this did not happen.
In the third quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, the lawmakers are supposed to receive Ksh46 billion from the Treasury.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who was speaking on behalf of the legislators, said that if the funds were not released, they would call for a special sitting and draft appropriate motions against the CS, the CDF board and other related entities.
“We should have received at least 75 percent of the money by now, which is around Ksh43 billion, but to date, we haven’t received anything,” he said.
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga said that many schools have few classrooms and they are depending on the release of the funds to construct new ones.
“Children have also reported back to school and are expecting to benefit from the bursaries which unfortunately have not been released from the beginning of this financial year up to now,” he said.
The Legislators criticized a government memo dated January 4, 2024 directed to CDF account managers countrywide detailing that the funds could not be released due to amendments regarding the CDF Act.
The MPs said that the memo was unlawful and improper as the amendments to the CDF Act were passed in December 2023 and are only applicable in the next financial year.
According to the new Constituency Development Act, funds allocated for bursaries were increased from 35% to 40 % meaning Ksh21.2 billion will be channeled to bursaries out of the Ksh53.3 billion kitty.
By Obegi Malack | obegimalack@gmail.com
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