Wetangula now wants bursaries, scholarships consolidated into one fund

The push to make Kenya's education free for all is gaining momentum, with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula now directing the formulation of laws to collapse all bursaries and public scholarships into one fund.

Wetangula, who took a cue from Chief Justice Martha Koome, admits that the layers of duplication in the award of bursaries from the NG-CDF, counties, and the Ministry of Education reveal glaring inconsistencies.

The Ministry of Education has been directed to provide any policies that will assist in the drafting of the legislative proposal.

Wetangula, who held a candid meeting with MPs on Tuesday, has since directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to move with speed to draft a legislative framework.

Already, the Clerk of the National Assembly has written to the Ministry of Education.

The letter reads in part: "We have received a petition which notes the current incoordination towards the issuance of bursaries and scholarships... has in some instances led to a duplication of awards."

The letter to Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, titled 'Consolidation of Public Bursaries and Scholarship Programmes,' further informs the ministry that the High Court in Nakuru, in a case by Laban Omsundi vs. Controller of Budget and five others for the consolidation of existing bursaries and scholarships for purposes of coordination, informs the decision.

Wetangula now wants a formulation of legislative proposals establishing a defined structure for the administration of public bursaries and scholarships. This latest move could jolt the political class, who have traded the fund for political support.

"You find the MP is giving bursary, MCA is giving bursary, governor... women... they all come from the same source," says Wetangula.

Counties too have allocated billions of shillings into county bursary education kitties. For instance, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu allocated Ksh.400 million to educate 47,000 learners, with the county chief placing 1,702 under county scholarships.

Kiambu's Kimani Wamatangi allocated Ksh.50 million to benefit 100,000 learners. while Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika allocated Ksh.342 million for students.

In Nairobi, Governor Johnson Sakaja has allocated Ksh.857 million to be distributed in all 17 constituencies in the city.

Equally, MPs in Nairobi under NG-CDF have also allocated millions towards bursaries. For instance, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has allocated Ksh.72 million for bursary, while his Lang'ata counterpart Felix Odhiambo allocated Ksh.50 million as a bursary.

This is on top of the county bursary, meaning some learners will receive double while others will miss out entirely.

With all these funds scattered and the glaring inconsistencies, will MPs agree to let go of NG-CDF?