Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has launched the Turkana County Education Fund amounting to Sh534 million for the 2023/2024 financial year.
The Governor said that 80 percent of the fund, amounting to Sh427 million, has been earmarked for bursaries. Further, 12 percent of the Fund, equivalent to Sh64 million, has been allocated to the Turkana County Scholarship Scheme.
The Fund, established under the Turkana County Education Fund Act (2023), aims to provide financial support to needy students across the county.
He also announced that five percent of the fund, totaling Sh26 million, has been allocated to the Turkana County Loan Scheme. This scheme will provide financial support to students in colleges and universities through loans.
The Governor distributed cheques amounting to Sh191 million in the first phase of the bursary allocation which has benefited 23,246 students across the county. The beneficiaries include students in secondary schools, universities, colleges, vocational training centers, polytechnics, and other educational institutions.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Lomorukai asked ward bursary committees to observe transparency and avoid politics in the allocation process.
“I want to appeal to the committees to ensure that the bursary allocation is free of politics and fair to all applicants. If we politicize such key issues like bursary allocation, then we risk causing divisions among our people,” he said.
He revealed that the scholarship program will benefit 100 secondary school students, along with several students pursuing rare skills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and universities. The Governor also announced that the second phase of fund disbursement was set for April.
The County boss assured residents that the county would digitize bursary allocation to streamline the process and thanked the Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen Foundation, Cooperative Bank, and KCB Bank for providing a total of 17 scholarship opportunities to students from Turkana County.
Deputy Governor Dr John Erus urged the youth to take up opportunities in TVETs to acquire skills that will help change their lives. He rallied residents to join the county’s efforts to combat drug and alcohol abuse.
County Commissioner Jacob Ouma cautioned school heads about misappropriating food in the school feeding programme. He also directed the County Police Commander to investigate claims of financial malpractice by the management of Eldoret Technical Training Institute (ETTI).
Turkana Central MP Emathe Namuar who graced the launch echoed appeals to school heads to avoid sending students home for fees and expressed concern that the practice was affecting performance.
County Executive for Education Leah Audan announced that application for the scholarship scheme was open and directed interested applicants to apply.
Deputy Speaker Philip Ekuwam led a team of MCAs in the launch including Chairperson of the County Assembly Committee on Education Michael Aemun (Kaputir).
Senior County Government officials present included Deputy County Secretary Dr Albert Gamoe; CECMs David Erukudi (Trade), Peter Akono (Lands), Patrick Losike (Roads), and Dr Anthony Apalia (Agriculture).
By Peter Gitonga
