Thousands of students whose education was at risk after the Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakang’o, instructed county governments to stop issuing bursaries, can now feel reassured following government intervention to address the issue.
The breakthrough was achieved during a meeting between Governors, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and representatives from Nyakang’o’s office at the 26th edition of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) held in Nairobi on Monday.
During the meeting, it was agreed that counties with established education funds would be allowed to resume issuing bursaries to the students who rely on them. For counties without such funds, they were directed to either create these funds or collaborate with the Ministry of Education to facilitate bursary issuance.
Addressing the situation, Deputy President Kindiki downplayed claims of mismanagement by the government, emphasizing that differing opinions on matters like this are normal and part of governance.
“It’s normal for us to have differing perspectives on certain matters, including education support. Such differences are expected and part of the democratic process,” Kindiki stated.
To address the issue comprehensively, it was resolved that a formal engagement involving the Controller of Budget, the Council of Governors, the Ministry of Education, and the Treasury will be organized. This engagement will aim to establish a sustainable and clear framework for the issuance of bursaries moving forward.
Council of Governors Chairperson and Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi noted that the decision to stop bursary disbursement had already caused significant hardship for many students. He urged all parties involved to act swiftly in implementing a solution to avoid further disruption.
“Some counties have attempted to disburse funds but have been unable to because of the directive. We hope that the resolution will also include measures to address the challenges these counties are facing,” Abdullahi said.
The suspension of bursaries began after the Controller of Budget sent a circular to county governments on January 14, directing them to halt bursary distribution. The CoB argued that providing financial aid to students in universities and other tertiary institutions was a function of the national government, not the counties.
“According to Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule under Section 16, the responsibility for universities, tertiary institutions, primary schools, special education, and secondary schools lies with the national government,” the letter stated.
However, the letter clarified that counties could still support students in specific areas of education under their jurisdiction, such as pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft centres, and childcare facilities.
“Conversely, Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule under Section 9 places pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft centres, and childcare facilities under the mandate of county governments,” the letter further explained.
This clarification provides a pathway for counties to address the funding gap for other education levels, ensuring they stay within their legal mandate while continuing to support learners at the grassroots.
Join Kenyan Gen z and millennials official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time the ongoing situation https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@news.hub88?_t=ZM-8sz45qJid3V&_r=1
