Governor Releases KSh315 Million in Bursaries to Support Kisii Students
Thousands of students across Kisii County are expected to benefit after Governor Simba Arati launched another major bursary disbursement programme aimed at helping learners stay in school despite the growing cost of education.
The latest rollout, which took place on Wednesday, April 8, saw the county government release KSh315 million to support needy students from different wards across the county.
The exercise was held at Nyamarambe Stadium in South Mugirango, where Governor Arati personally supervised the issuance of bursary cheques to hundreds of beneficiaries.
Under the programme, every student selected to benefit is set to receive at least KSh5,000, a move meant to reduce the burden on parents and guardians who are struggling to keep their children in school.
The event attracted local leaders, parents, and residents, many of whom praised the county for continuing to invest heavily in education support.
The governor was accompanied by his deputy, Elijah Obebo, as they presided over the distribution exercise. During the event, Arati announced that every ward in Kisii County would receive KSh7 million in bursary funds.
This ward-based allocation is expected to ensure fairness in distribution and guarantee that more deserving students, especially those from vulnerable families, are reached through the programme.
The bursary initiative is mainly designed to cushion families facing financial difficulties, particularly those who have been unable to raise school fees due to tough economic conditions.
By increasing access to bursaries, the county government hopes to reduce absenteeism, improve school retention, and prevent more students from dropping out of school.
This marks the second bursary rollout by the county government in 2026. Earlier in January, the county also released KSh300 million in a similar programme targeting thousands of secondary school students.
That first phase focused heavily on learners in examination classes, especially Form Three and Form Four students, with the goal of reducing dropout cases among candidates preparing for national exams.
Before the January disbursement, the county administration held public participation forums in several constituencies, including Bobasi, Bonchari, Bomachoge Chache, Nyaribari Chache, Nyaribari Masaba, Kitutu Chache South, and Kitutu Chache North.
The consultations later extended to Bomachoge Borabu and Bomachoge Chache, helping county officials identify the most deserving students and ensure transparency in the exercise.
Beyond the education sector, Governor Arati also used the event to highlight plans to revive the Kisii Milk Factory as part of efforts to support dairy farmers and improve household incomes.
He said once the factory becomes fully operational, it will be buying milk from local farmers at between KSh60 and KSh65 per litre.
This, he noted, will create a reliable market for farmers while boosting the county’s dairy economy.
In his speech, the governor also touched on local politics, taking a direct swipe at his longtime rival Ezekiel Machogu.
Arati urged him to consider retiring from active politics and allow younger leaders to take over the mantle of leadership, saying Kisii needs fresh ideas and renewed energy to prosper.
The latest bursary disbursement comes barely a week after Governor Arati waived hospital bills for more than 100 patients at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, further underlining the county government’s recent push to expand social support programmes in both education and health.
Overall, the latest KSh315 million bursary release is expected to make a major difference in the lives of thousands of students and families across Kisii County, while reinforcing the county government’s commitment to education, welfare, and economic empowerment.
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