In Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County, Kenya, a growing concern has emerged among residents regarding the delayed disbursement of bursary funds essential for their children’s education.
While neighboring constituencies have received their allocations, Lurambi’s students remain at home, unable to attend school due to a lack of fees.
This issue has sparked widespread frustration, highlighting a critical gap between infrastructure development and actual access to education.
Many students in Lurambi rely heavily on bursary funds to finance their education. The delay in disbursement has left numerous learners stranded at home, unable to continue their studies.
Parents and guardians express deep frustration, questioning the purpose of constructing new classrooms when the intended beneficiaries cannot afford to utilize them.
One local resident poignantly asked, “What is the purpose of constructing new classrooms if the students who are supposed to learn in them are unable to afford school fees?”
Dr. Joel Moses Ndungah, a concerned resident of Lurambi, criticized the recurring delays in bursary disbursement, emphasizing that this is not a new problem.
He stated, “This has been happening every year, leaving Lurambi students behind while others in neighboring constituencies progress. The Member of Parliament must take responsibility and ensure that these bursaries are released on time.
” This recurring issue has fueled concerns about the MP’s priorities, with many arguing that while infrastructure development is crucial, ensuring access to education should take precedence.
In response to these challenges, Lurambi MP Titus Khamala announced plans to convert the constituency’s National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) education bursaries into subsidies for day secondary schools starting next year.
This change aims to provide schools with larger, timely allocations to purchase food for students’ lunches, thereby keeping learners in school. Khamala explained that his team developed a hybrid approach to ensure schools receive funds more efficiently.
The goal is to reduce annual fees for day scholars from between Sh10,000 and Sh15,000 to approximately Sh5,000. He suggested that any remaining balance could be covered by ward bursaries, effectively making day secondary education nearly free.
At the county level, Governor Fernandes Barasa announced that Kakamega County will set aside Sh240 million for bursary funds in the 2023/2024 financial year. This allocation translates to Sh4 million per ward, aimed at supporting students from financially challenged families.
The governor emphasized that the county government is focused on improving infrastructure in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers and county polytechnics.
He reiterated that the bursary program seeks to invest in future human capital in Kakamega County through the sponsorship of quality training, skills, and knowledge for empowerment opportunities.
The issue of delayed bursary disbursement is not unique to Lurambi. Nationally, learners from poor families who depend on bursaries to pay fees risk being turned away when schools reopen due to delays in disbursing National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) cash.
The National Treasury has not disbursed funds to the 290 constituencies since last July, threatening the education of thousands of needy students.
Members of Parliament have described the delay as an “extremely unfortunate state of affairs,” with some MPs issuing bursary forms without having the funds to support needy students.
The delay in bursary disbursement in the Lurambi Constituency underscores a significant challenge in balancing infrastructure development with actual access to education.
While constructing new classrooms is essential, ensuring that students can afford to attend school is paramount. The initiatives by both the constituency’s MP and the county government to reform bursary allocations and increase funding are steps in the right direction.
However, timely implementation and disbursement are crucial to prevent further disruptions to students’ education. Residents and stakeholders alike are calling for urgent action to resolve this issue and ensure that Lurambi’s students receive the support they need to continue their education.
