115 bright and needy students from Rachuonyo sub-county in Homabay have benefited from the presidential bursary scheme.
The area Children Officer Caleb Ochor said the beneficiaries mostly orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), are learning in various secondary schools in the county and outside.
“Most of the children received sh. 11,000 each though, there were two cases the committee felt should get more and they allocated one sh 17,655 and another 26,655,” he said when he addressed the media on Friday.
The officer said 57 of the beneficiaries are girls while boys are 62 spread across two sub counties of Rachuonyo south and Rachuonyo east.
Each sub county the officer said, received the first tranche of the year 2018 /2019 allocation amounting to sh 689,655 adding up to sh1.4 million for the two sub counties.
The presidential bursary complementary service to the cash transfer OVC programme is disbursed every financial year in all constituencies countrywide to support needy and vulnerable children to enroll, attend and complete education.
Those seeking support make their application requesting for help through the children office and the allocation is done by the constituency social assistance committees
The children officer said the committee is very keen on the academic performance of the applicants which they consider when allocating funds from the bursary scheme which was started in 2013/2014 to support needy and bright OVCs.
Last financial year 2017 /2018, 146 students from both Rachuonyo south and Rachuonyo east sub counties benefitted from the fund with a total of Ksh 2.7 million disbursed.
The children officer said the number of beneficiaries is bound to increase next year when those who sat for KCPE join form one.
By Moseti Julius
