Waiguru disburses Ksh.129.5 million bursaries to needy students in Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru on Wednesday disbursed Ksh.129.5 million in bursaries to support 48,000 needy students, reaffirming her administration’s commitment to ensuring that no learner is locked out of school due to lack of fees.

Speaking during the disbursement exercise at the County Headquarters, the governor described the initiative as a key milestone in investing in the future of the county’s children, noting that beneficiaries span all levels of education.

Of the total recipients, 37,002 are secondary school students, 5,565 are in colleges, while 5,433 are pursuing university education—an approach she said reflects inclusivity and equity in access to learning.

Waiguru said the latest allocation brings the county’s cumulative bursary disbursement to Ksh.670.2 million since 2017, marking a significant rise from Ksh.49.1 million allocated in the 2017/2018 financial year. She noted that the steady increase underscores a deliberate effort by her administration to ease the financial burden on families while expanding educational opportunities.

Selection of beneficiaries is undertaken through ward-level bursary committees, a system the county says ensures transparency and responsiveness to local needs.

“These committees understand the unique challenges faced by families in their communities and help us reach the most deserving cases,” she said.

Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari, who also attended the event, praised the governor’s consistency in supporting education, noting her role in safeguarding county bursary programmes.

“I would like you to thank Governor Waiguru for this initiative, which has been vital in supporting needy students across Kirinyaga over the years. She was also at the forefront of opposing a directive that had stopped county governments from disbursing bursaries, and because of her efforts, this programme was reinstated. That is why we are able to support these students today,” he said.

Gitari also lauded the county’s ECDE uniform programme, terming it a transformative intervention for early learners, and added that parents and beneficiaries continue to pray for the governor’s leadership.

Murinduko Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) and Education Committee Chairperson Charles Nyaga Nyamu described the disbursement as a turning point for many families.

“This is a great day in Kirinyaga. Education is the greatest equaliser—it can make you dine with kings,” he said. “I am a living example. I was once a needy student supported through education, and today I sit with leaders, including the governor. That is the power of education.”

Beyond the statistics, the human impact of the programme was reflected in emotional testimonies from beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed.

Virginia Wangeci Njuki recounted how she nearly lost hope after the death of her father while in Form Three. She said the governor personally intervened during her time of grief and committed to supporting her education.

“She promised to stand by me through my studies, and she kept that promise. Today, I have graduated from KMTC with a diploma in orthopaedic and trauma medicine. I am truly grateful because she became my pillar when I had lost everything,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Erick Kariuki, shared his journey from hardship to graduation, crediting the bursary support for giving him a second chance.

“I sat for my KCSE with potential but no means. I worked as an untrained teacher earning very little, struggling to save for college, but I often dropped out due to a lack of fees. My fortunes, however, changed after meeting the governor in 2021. She promised to pay my school fees, a promise she fulfilled. In 2024, I graduated,” he said, noting that the support did not just change his education, but his life as well.