Nyandarua County Assembly has approved a County Bursary Fund Amendment bill (2024) that will ensure all learners with disability in the county receive a share of the fund.
The bill will see even learners in private schools also benefit from the fund unlike before ensuring that learners get even opportunities for access to education.
This was as a result of a motion sponsored by the representative of PWDs interests in the House, Ms. Joyce Munyua, on September 6, 2023 which urged members of the Committee on Education, Children, Gender Affairs, Culture and Social Services to consider proposing an amendment to the Nyandarua County Bursary Fund Act, 2019.
“Most parents were not able to academically take care of their special needs children due to the special attention needed to look after them but now with this fund, parents will be able to take more children with special needs to school thus boosting the number of learners,” said Ms Munyua
The Committee, which was chaired by Leshau Pondo MCA Mr. Gathungu Kamau, later formulated a legislative proposal for introduction to the House.
In the new legislation, Section 5 of the County Bursary Act 2019 has been amended by inserting a new paragraph 5 which reads that: “The fund administrator and bursary committee shall ensure that there are funds available for affirmative action for persons living with disability.”
The intention is to mandate the fund administrator to ensure there is a fund earmarked for affirmative action.
This further gives effect to Article 56 of the Constitution.
Further, section 17 of the principle Act was also amended by inserting a new subsection 2d which states that “An Award of scholarship shall cover the entire period of study of the applicant…”
The intention, they said, was to protect learners who are awarded full or partial scholarships and then withdrawn after a term or two without justifiable reasons.
In addition, section 9 of the Act has also been amended to require the fund administrator to publish and publicize the list of all bursary applicants and successful applicants including the amount awarded at the ward offices and on the County Website.
The proposal is aimed at emphasizing the principles envisioned by Section 22 of the principle Act which includes; openness, accessibility and transparency among others.
Among the key stakeholders involved in the process were the Chief Officer for Education, Children, Gender Affairs, Culture and Social Services; the Chairperson for Nyandarua County Association Umbrella body for Persons living with disabilities, and the Director for L’Arche Kenya.
By Antony Mwangi
