Sh167 million bursary disbursed to needy students

Kericho, Saturday, 15 April 2023 

K.N.A By Kibe Mburu

A total of 42,422 vulnerable and financially disadvantaged students in Kericho County have a reason to smile after the County government disbursed Sh167,428,831 to cater for their tuition fees.

Among the beneficiaries of the bursary fund will be 29,006 high school students, 12,209 university students, and in National Polytechnic and Vocational Training Centres 1,218 students. 

Speaking during the launch of the bursary fund Kericho Governor Dr Eric Mutai commended the bursary committee for awarding the orphans and extremely vulnerable students a total of Sh10,000 each while the rest received Sh5,000 each. 

The governor promised to increase the bursary funds in order for more students in the county to benefit, noting that most parents grappled with tough economic times making it hard for them to foot school fees for their children.

Dr Mutai who is also the Education Committee chair at the Council of Governors expressed concern that a majority of the youth in the County did not pursue higher education after high school due to financial constraints and lower grades but promised to offer them scholarships.

“Sixty percent of our students who score grade C and below, can now benefit from a total of 3000 scholarships to pursue artisan courses at vocational training centers and we will select 100 youths in all the 30 wards in Kericho County,” added Dr Mutai.

He further added that workshops and incubation centers will be established and equipped to enable the youth to benefit from practical skills that will allow them to market and sell their products and services.

During the event at Kericho Day Secondary School, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education Judith Chirchir said that the beneficiaries were fairly selected from all the six Sub-Counties and that the funds would be disbursed via electronic money transfer directly to their learning institutions.

The other guests who graced the occasion included Kericho County Assembly Deputy Speaker Eric Bett, Members of the County Assembly, Officials from the Ministry of Education, school principals, students, and parents.

Courtesy K.N.A