Students in Gatanga have received Sh40 million in bursaries

Students in Gatanga have received Sh40 million in bursaries from the NG-CDF fund. Each student from the 52 local day and boarding secondary schools has been awarded Sh5,000. This initiative aims to alleviate the impact of delayed funding from the national government on schools.

George Thoithi, the principal of Gatunyu Secondary School, noted that the rising cost of living has made it difficult for parents to pay school fees, which affects the schools’ operations. His school has received Sh2.6 million from the NG-CDF, the highest amount given to any school, which will significantly help in keeping students enrolled.

Thoithi mentioned that while the school has incurred some debt, ongoing support from the NG-CDF has allowed it to function effectively. However, he did not disclose the total amount of the debt.

MP Edward Muriu, who distributed the bursary cheques to the schools on Tuesday, explained that the decision to support all secondary schools is intended to ensure that students’ academic performance is not hindered by the delays in funding. He emphasized that the aim is to assist parents so they can better support their children’s education, and they have decided to deliver the cheques directly to the schools to avoid long queues.

An additional Sh13 million has been allocated for students from the area attending schools outside the constituency and those in tertiary institutions. Muriu, who initiated a bursary program before his election to the National Assembly, highlighted education as a key focus of his initiatives, as it helps level the playing field for children from various economic backgrounds.

He called on the government to improve the capitation disbursement process to ease the burden on head teachers and principals. Muriu pointed out that many schools struggle financially, and he raised concerns that some students have been removed from the National Education Management Information System (Nemis), which collects school data, to reduce the funding allocated to those schools.

He argued that instead of cutting students from the system, the government should increase the funding per student. Additionally, the MP has launched the Dishi na Wakili program, aimed at providing meals at a subsidized cost to over 15,000 public primary school students. For Sh20, tracked through a system, a child receives a meal, with options including rice with beans, lentils, or peas.