Students walk on the streets of Nakuru city.
As schools reopen for the second term, parents in Trans Nzoia County have raised concerns over late disbursement of bursary funds, which are critical for children from poor backgrounds.
They said bureaucracy and late release of the bursary funds through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (CDF) remain a major setback to the education of children from vulnerable families.
“Some of us depend on bursaries, but we haven’t received the money up to now. Sadly, even the school principals say they do not get capitation,” said Peter Simiyu from Kwanza sub-County.
The parents observed that the school fees burden is a serious issue due to poor economic conditions.
“We are really suffering because business is very low and we cannot afford to meet our needs,” said Kennedy Soita, a jua kali trader in Kitale town.
This comes as a section of leaders in the county cautioned principals against sending students back home for school fees, adding that the NG-CDF will soon disburse the money.
Led by Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau and his Kwanza counterpart Ferdinand Wanyonyi, they asked principals of schools to be patient and admit students unconditionally.
“We will be releasing bursary funds soon after the vetting is completed and everyone who applied [and is qualified] for bursary will receive the money,” said Mr Kakai Bissau during distribution of UWEZO Fund cheques at Masaba B in Kiminini.
While in his constituency, the Kwanza MP called on the National Treasury to ensure sustainable disbursement of capitation funds to facilitate smooth operations in schools.
The leaders warned school heads against overcharging school fees against directions by the Ministry of Education, adding that every school must comply or face disciplinary action.
The leaders warned that they will not allow rogue heads of schools to manipulate parents and warned that all school heads found exploiting parents will be punished.
This comes as the Members of Parliament rejected Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader, Raila Odinga's push to abolish the NG-CDF, which has been operational since its inception in 2003.
"CDF is a game changer in this country and whoever thinks this fund can be given to county governors to implement is dreaming," Mr Wanyonyi told the press at Kwanza Sub-county offices when he issued Sh1 million worth of Uwezo Fund cheques to 20 groups on Wednesday.
Mr Wanyonyi, who is also the deputy party leader of the FORD Kenya party, took a swipe at governors, whom he said are unable to fully and properly utilise the billions they receive from the National Treasury.
"Governors are in for a rude shock because they will never manage NG-CDF anytime soon under our watch. Let them be satisfied with what we give them through equitable sharing. They would rather think of other things but not NG-CDF," he stated.
Caleb Amisi, the second time ODM lawmaker for Saboti Constituency, said scrapping NG-CDF will deny many children from poor families the right to education because they solely rely on the fund to pay for their school fees.
"NG-CDF has enabled many children from poor families to access education through bursaries for needy students. This fund has also seen several parts of Kenya enjoy meaningful development," Mr Amisi said.
On September 21, 2024, the High Court ruled that the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is unconstitutional. MPs were granted up to June 30, 2026, to complete pending projects in their constituencies before it is wound up
