By Anderson Ojwang
It is a rude shock to Students, Parents and Governors after Control of Budget (COB) declared that there will be no further issuance of bursaries and scholarships by the County Governments.
COG said the provision of issuance of bursaries and scholarships was the mandate of the national government and not the county governments, whose only areas of jurisdiction in education are mainly pre-primary education and village polytechnics.
The Governors had developed bursary kitty to cushion and support needy and bright students in their counties to pursue secondary, university and technical education.
From 2013 Governors came up with bursary kitty for needy and vulnerable students and this program has seen tens of thousands benefit from the program.
The bursary and scholarship schemes are in millions of Kenya shillings and support thousands of students at various educational levels.
In a circular No/1/.2025 dated January 14th 2025 from the Controller of Budget Dr Margaret Nyakango to all County Executive Committee Members (CEC) for Finance said there will be no more bursaries awarded by the county governments this year going forward.
It reads in part “ Clarification on functions of County governments towards provision of Education support.
The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution distributes functions between the National Government and the County Governments. Specifically, Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule under Section 16 designates universities, tertiary educational institutions primary schools, Special education, Secondary schools and Special education institutions as functions of the national government.
Conversely, part 2 of the Fourth Schedule under Section 9 assigns pre-primary education, village polytechnics, home craft centres and childcare facilities to County Governments.
Consequently, for a county government to offer educational support towards functions classified under part 1 of the Fourth schedule, there is a need to transfer the functions in accordance with Article 187 of the Constitution.
This process, as outlined under Articles 1&7 of the constitution as read together with section 26 of the Intergovernmental Relations Act, cap 265F requires the formulation of an intergovernmental agreement, which must be executed by an authorized person and published in the Kenya Gazette.
Therefore, any requisition for withdrawal of funds to perform functions categorized as national as national functions under part 1 of the Fourth schedule must be accompanied by the requisite intergovernmental agreement as prescribed by the law,”.
The directive comes hot on the heels after various governors in the 47 counties had embarked on bursary distribution to various beneficiaries.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga in December last year had embarked on bursary distribution to the needy children in Homa Bay County more than 32,800 vulnerable students were benefitting from Wanga’s Fin to fly of Sh 215M.
Recently, the Migori County Government rolled out the second edition of Dr. Ochilo Ayacko’s bursaries and scholarships amounting to Sh.120 Million for needy students.
Migori County Chief Officer in Charge of Education Rosline Otieno said that the 2025 bursary application was open and urged needy students to apply.
Otieno said the bursaries would benefit over 16,346 students in secondary and tertiary levels, with the minimum amount curbed at Sh5000 and 10,000 for secondary school and tertiary students respectively.
The official added that the bursaries targeted total orphans, partial orphans and other needy students in the community to help them address school fee challenges.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku recently issued bursaries and scholarships worth Sh 80M to beneficiaries both in secondary schools and colleges.
He said out of the Sh 80M, Sh 20M had been earmarked as a scholarship for needy and orphaned learners in secondary, university and technical institutions.
County Government of Kwale has disbursed Sh 95M while Kakemega has released Sh 240M and Taita Taveta has given out Sh 200M.
Other counties include Lamu Sh 55.8M, Wajir Sh 130M, Bomet Sh 167M, Machakos Sh 120M, Nakuru Sh 342M, Kitui Sh 72M, Nyandarua Sh 194.9M, Makueni Sh 114.9M, Garisa Sh 40M, Mandera Sh 460M, and Muranga Sh 118M.
Others are Samburu Sh133M, Baringo Sh 30M, Laikipia Sh 50M, Busia Sh 70M,Siaya Sh 110.6M, Nyamira Sh 66M, Mombasa Sh 200M, Tana River Sh 80M, Kiambu Sh 300M, Kericho Sh 110M, Vihiga Sh 100M, Kisumu Sh 400m, Nandi Sh 120M, Embu Sh 400M, Nairobi Sh 857M, Turkana Sh 534M, Tharaka Nthi Sh 34M, Nyeri Sh 40 M and West Pokot Sh 600M.
Others are Elgeyo Marakwet Sh 95M, Bungoma Sh 400M,Kisii Sh 245M, Trans Nzoia Sh 150M, Uasin Gishu Sh 165M, Marsabit Sh43M, Meru Sh 136M,Isiolo Sh 70M and Kilifi Sh 67M.
The move is likely to lead to mass dropout in schools and colleges as the needy students rely on bursaries and scholarships to pursue their educations.
Similarly, it is likely to interfere with the operations of secondary schools where most students rely on the bursary and scholarships to support needy learners.
