A total of Sh50 million has been set aside by the Butula National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) to support needy learners and enhance access to education in the constituency through bursaries.
Speaking during the launch of the bursary application process, Butula Constituency NGCDF Chairperson Hezron Odongo said the bursary initiative aims to ensure that students remain in school, with a focus on both secondary and tertiary institutions.
“For secondary schools, day scholars will receive a minimum of Sh5,000, while boarders will get at least Sh7,000. Some students will receive full scholarships,” he noted.
He said that those in tertiary institutions will receive a minimum of Sh10,000 each to enable them to continue with their education.
Odongo further noted that the bursary application process has been decentralised across the constituency to ensure that all eligible students have an equal opportunity to apply.
“Previously, applications were done at the NGCDF offices, but this posed a challenge as some needy students missed out due to late submissions. We have now moved the process to schools and communities to reach people where they are, instead of them spending time and money travelling to our offices,” he explained.
He urged parents and guardians to provide accurate information during the application process, noting that the details submitted will determine the level of support awarded.
“Priority will be given to children living with disabilities and those with special needs,” he added.
Parents in the constituency welcomed the initiative, citing financial hardships that have made it difficult to pay school fees.
Patrick Muyodi, a parent, said many families are struggling to meet education costs.
“We are grateful for the bursaries and hopeful that we will benefit. I was involved in an accident that left me unable to work, making it difficult to raise school fees for my children,” he said.
Another parent, Gaudencia Akoth, called for priority to be given to widows, noting that they face significant challenges in educating their children.
“We want widows to be given priority because most of us have no other source of income. With the current economic situation, it has become difficult to pay school fees. I have a child at Moi University, and I cannot manage to pay the fees, which is why I have come to apply for the bursary,” she said.
By Rodgers Omondi and Moses Wekesa
