By reporter
Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has strongly criticized the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o for denying Counties to issue bursaries to needy students in the Country.
Achani’s sentiments comes at a time when the controller of budget issued a circular to stop counties to allocate funds for the secondary and university bursary programmes.
Kwale County is among Counties affected by the decision of the Controller Of Budget to stop allocation of funds meant for bursaries.
The Elimu ni Sasa program that started way back in 2013 has Sponsored over 8,842 secondary school students , 6,447 from university and colleges with an average of 16,805 students getting bursaries every financial year.
The Governor increased the bursary fund from 400 million to 500 million in every financial year in order to curb the number of students dropping out of school due to lack of fees in Kwale.
Speaking during the opening of Ramisi Ward office, kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani called on the Controller of budget to reconsider her stand on bursary warning that her directive risks derailing education access for thousands of learners in Kwale
“As a County we express our dissatisfaction with the Controller of budget, who has denied counties from accessing bursary funds kit terming it as a National Government function.”Achani Said.
Kwale County Government had already issued bursaries for the National School Students this January amounting to over 94 million Kenyan Shillings with the County Boss dismayed by the decision of CoB to reject County’s request to get funds to pay school fees for the remaining students who had filled the bursary forms.
“We are not doing any National Government function as Counties what we are doing is a social responsibility to Ensure our Children remain in school through County bursaries.”Nyakang’o should release our money for the bursary to allow our children to go back to school.” Achani Said.
On the other hand Majority Leader and Member of County Assembly for Ramisi Ward Hon Hanifa Mwajirani echoed Governor Achani’s statement on the bursary program and demanded for the continuity of the Elimu Ni Sasa bursary program because it has really helped the people of Kwale.
“On behalf of the County Assembly of Kwale, I am asking the Controller of budget to revisit her decision in regards to denying Kwale accessing the bursary fund kit because by doing so many students in national schools, other secondary schools and universities will drop from school,” said Hanifa.
Kwale County National Assembly members of Parliament led by LungaLunga member Mangale Munga chiphoromodo urged the Controller of Budget to allow Counties to continue with the bursary programs so as to boost the efforts of the national government on ensuring that every child in kenya has equal opportunity on accessing education.
Present at the meeting were Kwale County Assembly Speaker Hon. Seth Kamanza, Pongwe Kikoneni Ward MCA Omar Mwaduga, and Government officials.
