Residents cry foul over unequal scholarship distribution

Some residents in Bonchari Constituency, Kisii county have criticized their local MP Charles Onchoke for alleged discrimination in scholarship distribution, asserting it will hinder government initiatives for universal transition to senior schools. Addressing a gathering in Suneka town within the constituency, the residents, led by Pavel Oimeke, the former area MP, stated that the government’s policy to track grade 10 learners would be ineffective without financial assistance, including through NG-CDF scholarships. Oimeke alleged that the legislator was providing scholarships only to students studying within the constituency while excluding those enrolled elsewhere. Oimeke implored the current MP to revise his approach to ensure all deserving residents benefit. He pointed out that children attending national schools outside the county, who are future leaders, would face challenges in their education if Onchoke continued to deny them scholarships, particularly after the government allocated Sh171million for the area’s NG-CDF, with 40 percent earmarked for scholarships as stipulated in the revised CDF Act of 2023. He requested the sitting MP to allocate a minimum of Sh8000 per secondary school student, Sh10,000 for college students and Sh15,000 for university students. Another resident, Paul Mogire, alleged that the MP was also discriminatory in allocating resources for developing local school infrastructure. However, in a phone interview, Onchoke refuted the claims, stating that scholarships had not yet been distributed to any beneficiaries. He confirmed that the scholarship distribution process would commence on Tuesday.