Kakamega’s Governor Fernandes Barasa has started disbursing bursary cheques to schools in the county. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the county government allocated Sh4 million per ward for bursary, giving it wide coverage in several schools.
Speaking to faithful at the Eregi Catholic Church, Governor Barasa announced that Sh3,000 would be provided for secondary school students and Sh10,000 for students in polytechnics. Among other objectives, it is to cushion families from financial constraints and improve the level of enrollment and retention in schools and polytechnics.
Several schools have had their benefit from the bursary funds. For example, Friends School Lusiola got Sh627,000, and Friends School Chandumba was given Sh549,000. The Governor has emerged again to explain that the distribution of the bursary funds would not end there but continue to other schools in his county.
Governor Barasa further revealed that the allocation to the bursary fund for the 2024/2025 financial year shall be reduced to Sh3 million per ward from the current Sh4 million per ward. The reduction is part of a strategic shift towards development in other education sectors that are generally devolved functions of the county government.
The county is now going to direct its energy to the improvement of ECDEs and county polytechnics. The governor insisted on timely capitation to most polytechnics, whose programmes must be smooth. Commitment to providing Vocational Training to provide learners with abilities that are relevant in the job market.
Other than supporting polytechnics, the county government is also set to upgrade the infrastructure of ECDEs by purchasing more desks and improving the welfare of teachers. This move would enhance a good environment for young children, where they could build a solid foundation in their early years of education.