The Loima MP noted the trend of the National Government failing to fully disburse funds for the Presidential Secondary School Bursary (PSSB) during the last two financial years. The Presidential Secondary School Bursary, established in 2013, is intended to provide support — to promote household ownership and contribution to secondary school enrollment, attendance, and completion — with an emphasis on orphans and other vulnerable children throughout Kenya.
Issues Raised by MP Akujah
In a recent request for a statement from the Social Protection Committee, Akujah intimated that the Board has been inconsistent in reaching out to its targeted groups as per the act that established it. The Board, though having a statutory annual budget of KSh1.2 billion following approval from the National Assembly, disburses the sums to various constituencies. The actual disbursement to the constituencies is minimal – a fact that has seen numerous needy students drop out of school due to accumulated fees.
Impact on Education
Akujah highlighted that the partial disbursement of funds violates the constitutional right to free and compulsory basic education, underpinned by Article 53 (1)(b) of the Kenyan Constitution. He also stated that, with the increasing number of expected beneficiaries, it is important that sufficient funds are injected to adequately support these rising numbers of vulnerable populations.
Legislative and Administrative Concerns
In his address, Akujah asked the Social Protection Committee to investigate the reasons as to why there have been inadequate disbursements of funds in the past two financial years concerning the PSSB. He asked the committee to articulate measures that are going to ensure that both the current and past financial years’ appropriations are disbursed in full and in good time. Precisely, Akujah asked:
- Reasons for the Lack of Full Disbursement: He requested a detailed explanation for the shortfall in the allocated bursary funds.
- Plans for Future Disbursements: He sought clarification on the steps being taken to guarantee that PSSB funds are released as allocated in future budgets and disbursed promptly.
Importance of the PSSB
The PSSB, coordinated centrally by the Children Department headquarters in all the constituencies, has become assuredly a most potent service enhancement to the secondary school benefit for the most vulnerable children in Kenya. Its proper functioning is important for the rise in school enrollment, increased attendance, and ensuring that the students finish schooling.