Senators Propose Shifting Bursary Fund Management to National Government for Fairer Education Access

Recently, several senators, including Boni Kalwale of Kakamega and Raphael Chimera, have pushed for the transfer of bursary fund management from political figures to the national government. They argue that this change would ensure more equitable access to education for all Kenyans. According to the senators, funds currently managed by politicians could be more effectively used to address educational inequalities in schools. By integrating these funds with existing allocations from the Ministry of Education, there is potential for a significant improvement in the overall quality of education across the country.

This proposal arises from ongoing concerns that political figures, such as governors, MPs through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF), Women Representatives via the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and MCAs at the ward level, often skew benefits toward those aligned with the political elite, leaving many deserving students unsupported.

The senators aim to eliminate political bias in bursary distribution and create a more transparent and equitable system, ensuring that all Kenyan children have access to high-quality education regardless of their political connections.