Bursary Standoff: Thousands of Students Face School Lockout as Governors, Budget Controller Clash

Thousands of students across the country are facing a school term in uncertainty after being caught in a dramatic standoff over county bursary funds.

As schools reopen, many learners are returning without any assurance that their school fees will be paid—thanks to a fiery showdown between county governments and the Office of the Controller of Budget.

At the heart of the crisis is the Controller’s decision to decline approval for cash withdrawals earmarked for bursary disbursement, citing legal and procedural irregularities.

The move has infuriated county governors, who now threaten to take legal action for what they term as “contempt of court.”

The governors argue that the Controller of Budget is overstepping her mandate by frustrating a constitutionally protected right to education.

“This is not just an administrative delay—it is an attack on the futures of thousands of children from poor backgrounds,” said one county leader.

Meanwhile, Murang’a Governor HE. Irungu Kang’ata has filed a contempt of court lawsuit against the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango for failing to release bursaries to Counties despite a court order to do so.

The Governor and Kiiru MCA Morris Ngunu, on Tuesday, addressed a press conference and urged Nyakango to immediately release money meant for bursaries. Thousands of students whose school fees are paid for by the County Government face uncertainty after Nyakango refused to release money owed to counties for bursaries.

For students, especially those from vulnerable households, the bureaucratic tug-of-war spells disaster.

Many schools have already reopened, and some institutions are reportedly turning away learners who have yet to clear fees—despite previous assurances that bursary funds would cover the costs.

Parents and education stakeholders have voiced their frustration, accusing both the counties and the national budget office of playing politics with education.

“Children should not be used as pawns in a power struggle,” lamented one concerned parent from Kisumu.

The Learners’ plight is compounded by the failure of Government to timely release Free Education Capitation Funds to schools. This has forced schools to impose extra levies on parents to meet the day to day running of the schools that are now grappling with a cash crunch.

Legal experts say the clash could drag on for weeks unless urgent mediation occurs. In the meantime, uncertainty reigns in many homes, and school corridors that should be bustling with learning are filled instead with worry and waiting.