Siaya County Affirmative Action initiative has released Sh 8 million towards education bursaries and economic empowerment of women at the grassroots level.
The bursaries that will support bright and needy students in the region and the women empowerment initiative have each received an allocation of Sh 4 million.
An additional Sh 2.4 million has been committed towards the construction of a solarised water project at Wambara Secondary School.
Speaking while issuing cheques at Wambara Secondary School, the funds patron, Siaya County Woman Representative Dr. Christine Ombaka said the beneficiaries will be sponsored by her office till they complete their Form Four, and should they enroll for university, they will be prioritized.
Ombaka said she is committed to reducing illiteracy through the affirmative action initiative.
She added that 20 percent of the affirmative action fund goes to Bursary while another 20 percent supports Women’s Empowerment.
Ombaka was last Friday recognized by Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa as the best Women Representative Countrywide who has spent resources most prudently.
Ms. Jumwa said the Affirmative Action Board had assessed the projects done by the funds and found Siaya projects most viable, visible, and done with a minimum allotment of funds.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ombaka has confirmed that the Board came to assess the projects and found Siaya County shining with projects that were transforming the lives of Siaya people.
Ombaka said that the projects that made her stand included 10 markets strategically placed in the 6 Constituencies, four solarised water projects, three dormitories, three libraries, 200 double-decker beds, and 90 tanks of 10,000 liters each.
Ombaka said with the Sh 36 million allocated to her office annually, she had crafted a formidable strategy that has seen projects being carried out to completion.
“I equally have a clean team whose track records are clean. They have helped me run the office without any stress,” said Dr. Ombaka.
She further asked the public to embrace development and desist from attacks and unsolicited mockery of her performance.
“We have been saving resources to undertake big projects with greater impact on society and not smaller projects that take a toll on maintenance,” said Ombaka.
She was accompanied by Bondo Sub-County Administrator Mr. Vincent Kanyangonda who lauded the work done by Ombaka saying it aims at changing lives in the community.
Kanyangonda said Ombaka’s bursary comes only a few days after Governor James Orengo ended the 30 Wards distribution of bursary.
Governor Orengo released Sh 110 million towards the Elimu Mashinani Bursary scheme and more than 20,000 students benefitted.
He further urged students to work hard and post impressive results if they expect to continually benefit from the program.
“We expect to see value for money in the results so those with grade D and below may not be prioritized for the program,” said Kanyangonda.
By Brian Ondeng
