Kakamega County Government will set aside Sh240 million for bursary funds in the 2023/2024 financial year.
With the amount, every ward will be allocated Sh4million to be distributed among students from families with financial challenges.
Governor Fernandes Barasa said the current budget of Sh120 million set aside for Bursary funds was meant for 2022/2023fiscal year and was prepared by the previous administration led by former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
From this amount, every ward has been allocated Sh2million for bursaries. Governor Barasa was speaking during the homecoming ceremony of Khwisero Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka.
He said the county government will also channel a total of Sh1.2billion to wards in the 2023/2024 financial year through Ward Flagship projects with every ward getting Sh20 million.
“The Funds will go towards provision of water, connection of electricity and road construction in every ward,” he noted.
Kakamaga Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale had raised concern over the little amount of money set aside for bursary funds in the county.
Khalwale had complained that Sh2million was too little compared to the population of some wards urging the governor to allocate the bursary funds according to the needs and population of the wards.
He warned that if all the wards receive the same amount of bursaries, then some needy students will miss out.
However, Governor Barasa said the bursaries will benefit the needy, orphans and those from poor families only.
By Moses Wekesa
