Lugari lawmaker Nabii Nabwera has issued bursary funds worth Sh80 million under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to needy students from the constituency in form three and four.
Speaking during the disbursement exercise at Holy Family Musembe Secondary School, the Member of Parliament (MP) said under the new education support programme, every student attending a day secondary school within the constituency is getting Sh5000 which covers half of their annual school fees.
He said the bursaries will significantly complement parents’ efforts in paying school fees besides improving the student transition and retention rate at schools.
He said, “To the students, the respective Boards of Management and the Parents Teachers Associations, I have played my part adequately.
“I have agreed with the respective Sub County Directors of Education and the school principals that the school fees for day schools be uniform and it will be Sh.10000.
“I have paid Sh5000, so parents to all benefiting students who can’t pay the balance at once should discuss with the principals and come up with a payment plan.
“You can pay Sh2000 this term, Sh2000 in the second term and the balance in the third term.”
Nabwera appealed to students benefiting from the constituency’s bursary funds to ensure they attend school, work hard and excel in their studies as a way of reciprocating.
“Let us not waste government money. If we pay school fees that respective student must be in school. If we want to finish the E grades all students must attend school and be taught by teachers.” He appealed.
Nabwera appealed to the government to allocate an additional Sh.30 million to each constituency in the supplementary budget to cater for the needy grade 10 learners.
He called on fellow lawmakers to presume education to be an economic issue and increase its funding in the next budget cycle from Sh.760 billion to 1 trillion to cater for the current high demands in the sector.
Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda who was the guest during the disbursement exercise said the MP has made history by setting aside Sh.80 million in form of bursaries to uplift the constituency’s education sector.
She said besides the bursaries and scholarships the MP has also invested a lot in the development of school infrastructure since coming to office.
“Before the election of MP Nabwera, Lugari constituency never had a single primary school with a storeyed building. However currently we have 12. Now he has again made history by disbursing bursaries worth Sh80 million,” she said.
Chekalini Ward representative Titus Kwoma said the MP has taken the right direction in terms of supporting the constituency’s education sector urging other stakeholders to also effectively play their roles.
He said, “Our MP has invested immensely in the education sector. I am calling upon all the other stakeholders to be proactive and support him. Let us do our best.
“Parents you have a role to play. Similarly, the students, the teachers and we the leaders also have our respective roles.
“Let us work together and make Lugari a better place academically.”
The Deputy Director in charge of Administration at Kakamega County Education office Moses Guriri thanked the MP for complementing the Ministry of Education efforts geared towards ensuring each Kenyan child is accorded the right to education.
“As education fraternity we are happy anytime an effort is made to help our learners because that is our business. Our learners need to be in school. Our learners need to be well fed and our learners need to have all the necessary learning materials.
“When a leader makes an effort to reduce the financial burden on the parents to 50 percent we must appreciate it.” He stated.
Lugari Sub County Director of Education Joan Sakwa and her Matete counterpart Erick Obwiri also hailed the MP for the new education support programme, saying it will play a pivotal role in ensuring a 100 percent transition and retention of learners in schools.
They called on school principals to send the learners back home to look for school fees but rather have a sit down with parents and come up with a favourable payment plan for the balance.
They called on parents to ensure their children attend school as required, noting that most students who score mean grade E are the notorious absentees.
Lugari branch Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) chair David Makokha lauded Nabwera for the immense support he has accorded schools in the constituency since his election in 2022.
“We appreciate the support we have received in terms of fees payment and other infrastructural projects. We are going to ensure all our learners stay at school and learn,” he said.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
