Kiambu County MCAs have renewed calls for a substantial increase in the annual bursary allocation, proposing an additional Sh100 million every financial year to help deliver full scholarships to needy students. The push comes amid rising concerns over the growing number of learners struggling to stay in school due to escalating fees. Currently, the county allocates Sh200 million to its bursary programme, benefiting an estimated 20,000 students, but leaders argue that the demand far outstrips available resources.
Speaking in Kiambu Town, Majority Leader Anthony Ikonya emphasised that increasing education funding would ease the financial burden on thousands of households, particularly those unable to meet secondary and college tuition requirements. Ikonya, who was issuing bursaries worth Sh500,000 to Form One students and learners with special needs in his ward, noted that only a limited number of students ever secure full scholarships. He said expanding the kitty would guarantee that needy children are not forced to interrupt their education due to lack of fees. The push aligns with ongoing efforts by the county government to enhance access to education and revive stalled vocational training institutions.
Governor Ferdinand Waititu has previously disbursed significant bursary allocations, including Sh30 million channelled to all 60 wards for Form One fees in January, followed by an additional Sh67 million in February for students in Forms One to Three. He maintains that the bursary programme has had a notable impact, with more children remaining in class compared to previous years. Waititu has also pledged to expand support to university and polytechnic students, noting that the county has revived most of its training colleges, increasing the number of young people seeking bursary assistance.
Looking forward, county leaders say that creating a predictable, steadily growing bursary pool will help plan long-term interventions and ensure fairness in the distribution of funds. However, political disagreements within the assembly continue to stall supplementary budgets meant to boost both bursary allocations and other development projects. Governor Waititu has urged MCAs to prioritise service delivery over partisan conflict, warning that delays could affect thousands of learners awaiting financial support. If the proposed annual increment is adopted, Kiambu could emerge as one of the counties with the most robust education support programmes for disadvantaged students.