Kwale County Governor Salim Mvurya issued bursary cheques worth Sh. 28.5 million to secondary school and university students from different wards.
Mvurya assured the people of Kwale that his administration will continue investing in the education sector through the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative that has transformed the education standards in the county.
Addressing parents who attended the event at Tiwi ward Matuga sub-county on Wednesday, Mvurya urged residents to fully support the education initiative.
The Governor who is serving his second and final term said he wants to be remembered for transforming the education sector in the coastal county.
Mvurya stated that the Sh.400 million annual ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative that began in 2013 is slowly transforming the educational standards in the county.
“Through this initiative, Kwale is a leading county in matters education and we shall not allow needy students to stay out of school because of fees problems, and that is why we came up with the county bursary kitty to help needy parents,” he said.
The county boss said through the county bursary funds, over 2500 students are fully sponsored in their university education, over 5150 are benefiting from full sponsorship in national schools, while over 50,000 others get normal bursaries.
He lauded the educational scholarship programme saying it ensures needy and bright students from the county get full tuition for their secondary and college education.
Mvurya who was accompanied by his deputy Fatuma Achani also stated that the newly built Kwale Teachers Training College in Kinango sub-county will soon start intake of teacher trainees in May this year.
“We are also partnering with the national government and development partners in implementing several other projects among them the Sh.120 million Kombani Wholesale Market and the Shimoni Port,” he added.
At a different function Mvurya issued 100 he-Galla goats to farmers in Matuga sub-county with the aim of improving their local breeds to enhance bigger market price through crossbreeding.
Mvurya said that the agenda of his administration is to transform the lives of the people of Kwale by taking various development projects that impact their lives.
He said some of the key projects being implemented by his administration in conjunction with the national government and other partners include the huge water dams at Mwakalanga, Nyalani, Dziweni, Kizingo areas and building and upgrading of health facilities.
Others are the distribution of livestock to farmers, fishing equipment to fishermen, Shimoni Port project, Kwale Teachers Training College, Shimba Hills Fruit processing factory, and construction of more than 450 modern fully furnished ECD centers among others.
by Hussein Abdullahi/Melinda Kirwa