Win for Kwale parents as ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ bursary programme eases financial burden

Governor Fatuma Achani issues a bursary dummy cheque to parents and students at Kinango in Kwale County on Friday, January 3, 2025. Photos Shaban Omar

Just a month ago, Shafi Khamisi, Ali Najid, and Biasha Omar were among countless parents in Kwale County grappling with sleepless nights.

The burden of raising school fees for their children in the face of harsh economic realities and soaring poverty rates seemed insurmountable.

But now, their faces tell a different story, one of relief and hope.

This year, unlike those before, something remarkable is transforming the struggles of education in Kwale into a reason to celebrate.

The Elimu Ni Sasa bursary initiative, launched during the dawn of devolution by the Kwale County Government, has become a beacon of hope for countless families.

The bursary programme was initiated by former Governor Salim Mvurya and further strengthened by the current Governor Fatuma Achani, who served as Mvurya’s deputy for two consecutive terms.

It was designed to support bright but needy students to ensure that financial challenges do not stand in the way of academic potential and success.

The county recently increased its bursary fund from KSh400 million to KSh500 million annually.

By easing the burden of school fees, the bursary programme is not only empowering students to pursue their dreams but also giving parents like Khamisi, Najid, and Omar a fighting chance to break the cycle of poverty through the transformative power of quality education.

Since its inception, the Elimu Ni Sasa bursary programme has transformed the education landscape in Kwale, offering fully funded sponsorship to 8,842 high school students and 4,695 students in post-secondary institutions, according to Nicky Gitonga, the County Government’s Director of Public Communication.

The County Government’s Director of Public Communication Nicky Gitonga during an empowerment seminar in Nairobi in 2024.

On average, 16,805 students benefit from the bursaries annually, alongside 6,447 students from colleges and universities.

Beyond academics, the programme also empowers 4,985 youths annually through a fully funded driving programme, equipping them with skills to secure employment and improve their livelihoods.

Today, Shafi Khamis, Ali Najidi, and Biasha Omar are breathing a sigh of relief after their children’s school fees were fully paid by the county through the bursary programme.

A parent, Shafi Khamis speaks in an interview at Tsimba Golini in Kwale.

“We are happy. This initiative has been a lifeline for our children’s education. I don’t know what would have happened without it,” said 58-year-old Khamis.

A parent Ali Najid.

The middle-aged old man said he has enjoyed peace of mind since his son enrolled at Kenyatta High School last year.

He said the huge burden has been lifted from his shoulder and he is now able to do the remaining expenses.

Khamis acknowledged that life would have been much tougher without the support of the programme.

On his part, Najid shared his relief, revealing that his child, now in Form Three, has been receiving bursary sponsorship for three consecutive years.

“With three other children to take care of it would have been a real struggle to pay school fees without this support,” said Najid.

Najid added that the bursary programme has been a lifeline, allowing him to prioritize his family’s needs without the constant pressure of mounting educational costs.

A section of parents attends a bursary issuance exercise in Kinango.

Najid expressed his wish for the county to increase funding for the bursary programme, enabling even more children to benefit.

“Many children’s lives have been uplifted through the county’s bursary sponsorship, and I’m grateful that my child is among the beneficiaries. It’s a programme that has truly changed lives, and I hope it can reach even more families in need,” he said.

Omar, a 37-year-old single mother, said the bursary programme has been instrumental in supporting her daughter’s education at Ngala Memorial Secondary.

Her daughter, now in Form Four, has been under the county government’s scholarship programme throughout her high school journey.

She added that she is also assured of a university scholarship if her daughter gets the desired grades in KCSE.

By Shaban Omar

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