Senator Thang'wa files motion seeking to consolidate bursaries

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

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa has filed a motion before the Senate seeking the consolidation of bursaries to ensure equitable access to education.

Thang’wa proposes that the Ministry of Education consolidate the funds distributed by various government entities and agencies, with the aim of directing these funds directly to schools as supplementary capitation to facilitate the achievement of free secondary education.

The senator also seeks an audit of the funds allocated to bursaries by both the national and county governments.

He aims to calculate the cost of education per learner and make this information public for primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, including a detailed breakdown of the annual financial requirements for each student across the country.

“In the 2024/25, financial year, about Sh656 billion was allocated to the education sector. However, it is difficult to ascertain the specific funds granted to each student. The lack of transparency in the disbursement of bursaries from various agencies makes it challenging to determine the total amount allocated in a financial year, hindering efforts to ensure equitable access to education for financially disadvantaged students,” said Thangwa.

Cabinet secretary

The senator noted that the motion comes at an opportune time, as Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba admitted in the Senate last week that the ministry does not know how much money goes to bursaries across the country.

Thangwa claimed that the ministry has no data or framework to track how bursaries are distributed in the country.

He emphasised that there is bias and favouritism in the issuance of bursaries. He argued that citizens who do not vote for a MP often feel they have no right to receive a bursary.

In some cases, constituents are not even allowed to meet with the MP or Member of County Assembly (MCA) responsible for issuing the bursaries, while some politicians explicitly state that those who did not vote for them should be denied bursaries for their children.

He said it was time for the Senate to dignify parents, who should not have to rely on governors, MPs, or MCAs to provide bursaries that are then sent to government schools. Instead, he suggested that the government could send the funds directly to the schools to make education truly free.

“I always ask myself, why should the government give you money to pay a government institution? Why not channel that money to secondary schools as part of the capitation programme, so that we make education free?” wondered Thangwa.

The senator informed the House that the Education CS had stated there are 4.2 million learners in public secondary schools, each receiving a capitation of Sh 22,244, which totals to Sh 93.4 billion. He questioned why, if the ministry can afford this, the government does not consolidate all bursary and scholarship funds into one pool.

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.