Angry Nairobi MCAs Storm Sakaja’s Office Over Bursary Funds
Tensions ran high at Nairobi’s City Hall when a group of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) stormed Governor Johnson Sakaja’s office, demanding action against Controller of Budget (COB) Margaret Nyakang’o.
The MCAs were furious over her recent directive barring county governments from issuing bursaries worth billions of shillings to students across the country.
Exclusive footage obtained by newshub.co.ke captured the MCAs expressing their anger, insisting that Sakaja needed to intervene and provide guidance on how to handle the matter.
“We need to speak to the Governor! Today is the day we put an end to this nonsense! Nyakang’o must leave! She has denied us the funds needed to help our children! She has no compassion for the students of Nairobi and Kenya at large!” some MCAs shouted.
In the footage, Sakaja appeared calm and somewhat amused as the MCAs passionately aired their frustrations. They continued pressing him for a solution, vowing to take drastic measures if necessary.
“Your Excellency, Governor Sakaja, stand up for us! We are exhausted! We need direction! If you tell us to demolish the COB’s office, we will do it!” one MCA declared.
This standoff comes amid ongoing conflict between the Controller of Budget and the Council of Governors (CoG). Nyakang’o had previously ruled that counties had no authority to issue bursaries, stating that such responsibilities fell under the national government.
Her directive sparked strong opposition from governors, who argued that both national and county governments had a duty to provide social security, including education, to vulnerable students who could not afford school fees.
According to Nyakang’o’s order, counties are now prohibited from funding students in universities, colleges, primary schools, secondary schools, special education institutions, and other national government-designated learning centers. However, county governments retain the power to sponsor students in pre-primary schools and village polytechnics.
For any county wishing to offer bursaries for students in institutions under the national government’s jurisdiction, an official intergovernmental agreement must be drafted, signed by an authorized official, and published in the Kenya Gazette.
Governors have fiercely opposed this directive, demanding its immediate reversal. They have also warned that they will take legal action if the COB does not retract the decision.
Nyakang’o’s order comes at a time when the country is struggling with the implementation of a new university funding model, which has faced widespread criticism from various education stakeholders.
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