Waiguru calls for 'one man, one shilling' revenue formula

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru. [Jane Mugambi, Standard]

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called for the amendment of the law to allow a 'one man, one vote, one shilling' formula of allocating national resources saying the Mt Kenya region is disadvantaged under the current system.

Speaking in Thuguku village, after issuing Sh108.2 million bursary to 40,565 needy students in secondary schools, colleges and universities, Waiguru said the county receives inadequate funds.

"I support 'one man, one vote, one shilling' in equitable share allocation, Central Kenya is suffering," she said.

The beneficiaries who are drawn from all the 20 wards across the county include 30,571 secondary school students, 5,103 college students and 4,891 university students.

"The bursary programme ensures that needy students, who are identified through a rigorous vetting process by Ward Bursary Committees, are able to access education regardless of their backgrounds," she said.

She argued that the 'one man, one vote, one shilling' formula would ensure that the majority of students from Central who benefit from bursaries complete their education.

The principle of 'one man, one vote, and one shilling' seeks to have national resources allocated based on population as the main factor of consideration.

Waiguru said if the government released conditional grants with county governments as the custodians so as to sponsor education through bursaries it would boost the allocation.

She noted that in some counties, students get full scholarships of even Sh50,000 which have ensured a larger number of access to education.

For the six years she has been the governor at least more than 50,000 students have benefited from the Sh256.7 million bursary fund.