By Shaban Omar
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has directed ward administrators to give priority to students who are yet to report to school during the ongoing bursary disbursement.
The directive comes amid a nationwide crisis where thousands of learners remain stranded at home due to lack of school fees, despite schools reopening weeks ago.
Kwale is among the 16 counties that recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakangβo, paving the way for the immediate release of bursary funds to needy and vulnerable learners.
Speaking on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Salvation ArmyβMarket cabro pavement in Kinango, Achani emphasized that no child should be denied education because of financial challenges.
She said education remains a fundamental right and reaffirmed her administrationβs commitment to ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities across all communities.
βEducation is a right, not a privilege. I have instructed all ward administrators across the 20 wards to ensure that students who are still at home due to lack of school fees are supported immediately through bursaries,β said Achani.
Achani said that the county has been receiving distress calls from parents and guardians worried that their children may miss out on the academic year.
She said the devolved government is working closely with the nationwl government and local administration to assist the most deserving cases and ensure every child gets an opportunity to learn.
The governor added that the bursary programme will continue to support the vulnerable families, including orphans, children living with disabilities, and those from low-income households.
According to the Governor, the Kwale County Government through the Elimu ni Sasa bursary programme has already supported more than 16,000 secondary school students, over 6,000 university students and another 16,000 learners enrolled in various technical and vocational institutions.
She said the continued investment in education has significantly lifted the countyβs literacy levels and opened opportunities for thousands of young people who would otherwise have dropped out due to poverty.
Achani noted that the programme has become one of the countyβs most impactful initiatives, enabling students from remote and marginalised areas to not only remain in school but also compete favourably at national and regional levels.
Achani also called on community leaders to spread awareness and ensure that no eligible child misses out due to misinformation or bureaucratic hurdles.
She further warned against any form of favoritism in the bursary allocation process and called for maximum transparency to ensure that only deserving students benefit from the funds.
βThis process must be fair, transparent, and people-centred. The goal is to get every learner back to school. If you fail as ward administrators, the Governor will be blamed,β she said.
Achani stressed that the county will not tolerate cases where bursaries are issued based on political allegiance, personal connections, or manipulation by local leaders.
She said the programme must strictly target learners who face genuine financial barriers.
