Huge turnout in Mandera as Form One admission kicks off countrywide

A student arrives for admission to Mandera Secondary School. [Ibrahim Adan Ali, Standard]

"I am thrilled to share that the Mandera County Bursary Programme has benefited 165,648 individuals from its inception to the present moment, with a total budgetary allocation of Ksh 1,392,319,000 of which 810M was disbursed during my administration," said Kalif.

During the disbursement of the bursary in 2023, the county paid Sh350 million to cater for all the county secondary school fees.

This year, 2024, the county has announced that it is set to disburse a further Sh460 million.

A parent, Halima Hassan Abdi, said the initiative was a huge boost in ensuring access to education courtesy of the secondary fee waiver.

Abdi, whose four boys have been admitted to Mandera Secondary School, said he only catered for uniforms and other everyday essentials.

"I brought 4 children to study their secondary education at MSS free of charge. I bought for them uniforms, mattresses and other small things they will use in the boarding."

He added; "I thank God for the opportunity. I would not have afforded to pay their fee because I don't have anything remaining as I have lost all my livestock to the previous drought."