Governors support bursary merger to guarantee free education

A plan to merge all bursary schemes into one national education fund is gaining traction as governors and senators unite in support of a streamlined approach to financing education.

This proposal, aimed at addressing overlapping bursary allocations and promoting equity, has become a central point of discussion among education and county leaders.

Appearing before the Senate Education Committee, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu offered strong backing for the plan, noting that while his county has invested heavily in bursaries, he supports the idea of giving up local control for the sake of all students.

"It is a good idea. I don’t mind losing Sh600 million, provided all my children go to school," he said.

Governor Ntutu, who shared progress made in Narok's ECDE and TVET education, told the committee that many governors were willing to support the merger of bursary schemes if it would result in free and quality education for all.

"I would like to state that most governors have no problem with the bursaries being consolidated into one kitty if the funds are to be used to offer free education to all Kenyan students," he said.

This comes at a time when counties have been ordered to stop issuing bursaries following a court ruling and a stern directive by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o.

Both the Controller and the Senate have made it clear that bursary issuance is not a devolved function and should be managed by the national government.

Currently, multiple players issue bursaries independently from MPs and governors to ward representatives and the Ministry of Education.

This lack of coordination has led to some students receiving more than one bursary, while others get nothing at all.

Senator Karungo Thang’wa has introduced a motion in the Senate seeking to consolidate all bursary funds.

He argued that the fragmented approach prevents clear tracking of funds and creates inequality in the distribution.

"In the 2024-25 financial year, about Sh656 billion was allocated to the education sector. However, it is difficult to ascertain the specific funds granted to each student," Thang’wa told the Senate.

The senator also raised concerns about how bursaries are allocated, pointing to political bias and favoritism.

"Citizens who do not vote for an MP often feel they have no right to receive bursary," he said.

The lack of a central system has also made it difficult for the Ministry of Education to account for how much is spent on bursaries annually.

Education CS Julius Ogamba recently told the Senate that the ministry has no reliable data on bursary allocations countrywide.

In Narok, the governor defended the county’s role in supporting students, saying local bursaries had kept thousands in school.

"In Narok, for example, in the first year, I issued Sh372.5 million that benefited 37,428 students, in the second year, I issued Sh400 million, benefiting Sh42,116 students," said Ntutu.

He noted that in the 2023-24 financial year alone, Sh600 million supported 74,000 students.

Governor Ntutu added that a large part of Narok is arid and many families struggle with poverty, making bursary support essential.

The county has also focused on improving learning environments, having built 283 ECDE classrooms over the last three years and equipped them with tables and chairs.