Most needy students miss out on CDF bursary cash

By Dann Okoth

Glaring loopholes in the allocation of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) bursaries have sidelined thousands of poor students.

A new study exposes serious inconsistencies and limitations in governance in the awarding of bursaries in low-income areas of Nairobi, particularly slums.

According to the study in three constituencies in Nairobi, thousands of poor learners , particularly in the slums, do no benefit from the kitty, which was set up to help those who cannot raise school fees access education.

In the current financial year for instance, in Makadara constituency, only 25 of 4,200 applicants got partial or full bursaries. The report by the Centre for Economic and Social Rights blames political manipulation for the failures.

In the case of Makadara the study shows political expediency has taken centre-stage with councillors, chiefs and village elders controlling 15 per cent of the kitty.

The application and allocation is bureaucratic with politicians calling the shots.

"We were shocked to find that the CDF bursary committee members hands the bursary application forms to the chief who gives them to the local councillor who in turn hands them to the local councillor who distributes them to village elders to be given to students," says Mr Daniel Avwanga chairman of the centre’s Makadara Education Thematic Group.

Eleven of 15 members of the bursary committee in the constituency come from one community.

Apart from bursary, CDF funds are channelled towards provision of facilities like desks and chairs, building classrooms and textbooks.

Although Makadara has 28 public schools only three had received the funds.

The skewed manner in which the bursary is administered has led to students whose parents can afford fees to benefit at the expense of the poor. "Giving school fees to those who do deserve it defeats the intent and purpose of the bursary," says Mr Zablon Ombati.

The Sh800m CDF education bursary fund was set up to boost access and retention in school among needy students.

Critics say lack of monitoring from the Ministry of Education contributes to flaws in disbursement. "The District Education Officer in Makadara did not know anything about the bursary disbursements claiming he was only two weeks old in the office. The area Ministry of Education office was closed and phones went unanswered," says Mr Steven Makanga, a researcher. The scenario is much the same with the Dagoretti Constituency bursary fund, which the report claims is rife with corruption, favouritism and nepotism.

But even in constituencies where allocations are done above board, the amounts given are often insufficient and beneficiaries are unable to raise the remaining fees.

Drop in the ocean

The research found that in Kamukunji Constituency allocations were increased to Sh7, 000 from Sh3, 000 due to the rising cost of living. But the adjustment is a drop in the ocean going by the example of Maina Wanjigi Secondary School in Eastleigh Airbase Ward where school fees is Sh24, 000 per year.

"Even though the Government subsidises secondary school education to the tune of Sh10, 265, a poor student in Kamukunji who is allocated Sh7,000 may not be able to raise another Sh7,000 to meet the difference, says Ms Millie Jagero an education convener.

Although the researchers were impressed by the openness of the Kamukunji committee and education officials they felt bright needy students were being discriminated against in favour of orphans and those from single parented homes.

Students from the slums face difficulties in accessing public schools and most attend informal institutions run by individuals. According to the report, only students in public schools are considered for the bursary.

But distribution of the kitty is characterised by political intrigues, tribalism, nepotism and prejudice leaving out many deserving cases.