Waiguru call for review of funds allocation formula as she disburses ksh.108 million bursaries
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called for increased funding for counties in Mt Kenya region to cater for rising demand for bursaries for the needy students. While supporting the ongoing push for “One man, one vote, one shilling” formula of funds allocation to counties, Waiguru said Mt. Kenya region has been disadvantaged in the currently disbursement formula. She said to remedy the situation, there is urgent need for review of the revenue distribution formula to make population the main parameter in allocation of the national resources. “The bursaries we are giving out are not enough, I want to join those calling for increased funding for counties in Mt. Kenya especially for bursaries. We are proposing even if it is conditional grant, we will be grateful because this will help our children remain in school,” Waiguru said.
Speaking at Baricho area of Ndia constituency during launch of the distribution of bursaries worth Ksh. 108.2 million to needy students in the county, the governor said due to the high population in the region, money allocated for bursaries is not adequate to support learning of students. The Council of Governors chair regretted that while some other counties are able to fully fund education of needy students by allocating 100 percent bursaries, counties in the region were giving out Sh 2000 or Sh.3000 because of the high number of applicants. She said the government could also consider giving increased conditional grant to the counties to fill in the resource gap. The bursaries will assist 40,565 needy students studying in various secondary schools, universities and tertiary institutions.
The beneficiaries who are drawn from all the 20 wards across the county include 30,571 secondary school students, 5,103 college students and 4,891 university students. “The bursary program ensures that needy students, who are identified through a rigorous vetting process by Ward Bursary Committees, are able to access education regardless of their backgrounds,” she said. In the previous years, the county government has disbursed Ksh. 256.7 million benefiting over 50,000 students. “We remain committed to supporting the education of the children in the county, the improvement of academic performance and ultimately, the lives of the youth in the county,” said Waiguru,
The governor said the county is planning to roll out digital learning across all the 198 ECDE centers in the county to ensure that children are well prepared for the new education curriculum. “So as to enhance service delivery at our ECDE centers, we have been undertaking infrastructural development that include construction, renovation and equipping of classrooms as well as distribution of teaching and learning materials,” the governor added. Waiguru said the county government had absorbed all ECDE teachers on Permanent and Pensionable scheme of service so as to motivate them to improve standard of learning.
On Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TVET), the governor said her administration is working towards the appointment of Boards of Governors to enhance management of the institutions for better delivery of services. “We are working towards having centers of excellence in various youth polytechnics to enable our youth access high quality training that will prepare them for the contemporary job market or self-employment,” she added.
