Deputy Governor receiving a Khs 68.4 Million cheque to kick off the disbursement of bursary and scholarships to schools ( Picture By Collins Owuor)
By Matilda Atieno
Kisumu County today launched the disbursement of Ksh. 68.4 Million in bursaries and scholarships to 9629 beneficiaries in a colorful ceremony held at the Mama Grace Onyango cultural center.
The allocation will benefit secondary, university and driving school students across the county with 12,641,971, going towards scholarships, 27, 625,000 and 14,811,643 for university fees. The beneficiaries under these categories qualify for the scholarship.
Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili presided over the ceremony on behalf of the Governor Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. He said the program had slowed down due to the Covid-19 and the delay in the remittance of money to counties from the national treasury.
Dr. Owili asked the County departments of Education and Finance to prioritize bursary and scholarships to avoid delays in remittances to schools. He also appealed to the beneficiaries to work hard in their studies , saying it was to the only way to express gratitude to the County Government.
This year, additional 350 students who had been selected to join Form One have benefited from the funds and another 16,694 students were awarded bursaries, out of this, 5,296 are girls. This fund has successfully contributed to the realization of dreams to many beneficiaries.
The bursary targets bright, needy and vulnerable children with 350 marks and above. Dr Owili said the selection process was transparent.
“The applicants are taken through a transparent selection process which involves the application of the potential beneficiaries at the ward level,” said the Deputy Governor.
He added: “The ward committee conducts vetting and identification of the applicants with each ward getting a total allocation of 4million.”
Education ICT and HRD Executive Committee Member, Mwalimu John Awiti, announced that 70 more ECD teachers are set to be posted in their respective centers across the county.
Mr. Owiti pledged to work together with stakeholders for the success of the program to help stop delays.
Also present were officials of the Kenya secondary heads association (KESHA) and the Kenya primary headteachers association (KEPHA) who applauded the exercise and proposed to be included in the vetting committee to support the vetting process to help minimise the challenges.
The Deputy Governor used the opportunity to urge residents to adhere to the COVID-19 control measures to help stop the spread of the disease.
The event was attended by Executive Committee members, Dr. Joyce Osogo, Prof. Boaz Nyunya and Mr. Salmon Orimba, Majority leader Kenneth Onyango, Chairman of the County Assembly Committee on education Hon. David Arao, Market / Mlimani ward MCA, Seth Kanga and several Members of the county assembly.
Others were the , Deputy County Commissioner for Kibet Bowen, Chief officer Education ICT and HRD, Mrs. Penina Onyango, Ag Chief of staff and Chief officer Communication Mr. John Oywa, Sub-County Administrators Ward Administrators, Representative of the county director education and other county officers.
