Lawmaker wants Education ministry to consolidate money distributed by various State entities and agencies.
He also seeks an audit of funds allocated to bursaries by national and county governments.
Edwin Nyarangi, Nairobi
Elimu Kenya
He pointed out that the Ministry of Education also runs the Elimu Kenya Scholarship Fund, which amounts to Sh4 billion.
"They have the Elimu Kenya Scholarship Fund amounting to Sh 4 billion. If we add it to Sh 93.4 billion, it makes Sh97.4 billion. If you add the Sh11 billion that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) gives, it totals Sh108.4 billion. Every county gives about Sh300 million per year, and if you add all counties, that's almost Sh14 billion. Even without counting Woman Representatives, who also manage bursary funds, you have about Sh122.4 billion," said Thangwa.
Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera supported the motion, urging all Senators to back it, calling it an idea whose time has come. He acknowledged that some colleagues might argue politically against it, particularly those who control bursary funds.
Chimera added that many Senate members had served as National Assembly members, where they had the opportunity to manage and channel bursary funds.
He also noted that Woman Representatives now have funds under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
"Today, our colleagues are running the NG-CDF, and our governors have various scholarships in different counties. These programmes are robust and vibrant, but we are not saying it's wrong for county governments to issue bursaries. However, the question we are asking is, how sustainable is this programme?" Chimera asked.
Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina acknowledged that bursaries are essential, but he expressed concerns that Members of Parliament, Woman Representatives, Ministry of Education officials, and even the Office of the President might be reluctant to give up control of bursary funds that have benefited their constituents, friends, and families.
County government
Ledama stated that while the motion is important, he questioned its feasibility. Every county government currently has a County Bursary Act, and the NG-CDF allocates around Sh 40 million per MP for bursaries.
"If you consider the affirmative action funds as well, the Woman Representatives will claim they have X amount of money for bursaries. Will this motion overturn all these legislations? My answer is no. The motion will not be enough to overturn all these legislations. It will be an academic exercise unless my colleagues introduce a piece of legislation," Ledama said.
Ledama stressed that senators need to be realistic when proposing motions, especially since no county government entity is likely to allow the Ministry of Education to audit bursary funds unless that function has been transferred to the national government.
He suggested that Thangwa should focus on auditing county bursary funds.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale supported the motion, emphasising that it aligns with national values and principles of governance.
He argued that denying a child the opportunity to go to school undermines their human dignity.
"To expound on equity, when you allow certain children to have access to education and deny others, that is against the principle of equity. A national value ensures that the children of Dr Khalwale, a privileged parent, have the same access to opportunities as the children of the worker who used to take care of my bull before he died," said Khalwale.
West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor expressed concerns that, even if bursaries are centralized or consolidated, corrupt principals might still exploit the ignorance of parents, sending their children home despite receiving funds from the consolidated kitty.