Bursary cheques worth Sh3 million have been disbursed to 510 needy students studying in various learning institutions in Homa Bay, under the Kowili Education Recovery Programme.
The fund is a community-supported programme, aimed at ensuring that no child drops out of school due to lack of school fees.
Speaking during the disbursement exercise, the fund’s Chairperson, Kennedy Ogindo, said the programme was founded to address school dropout cases within the Kowili community and has already recorded significant success since its inception three years ago.
“Our main objective is to make sure that no child from our community drops out of school because of school fees. I am happy to report that since we started this programme three years ago, at least three students who had previously deferred their studies have successfully graduated,” said Ogindo.
He noted that the fund relies heavily on community involvement, with cases of needy children identified through public forums, village elders, chiefs and other community leaders.
Once such cases are reported, the fund takes immediate action to ensure the affected learners return to school.
“We always meet openly with the community. If there is a child unable to attend school, we are informed and we act. So far, we have managed to handle all reported cases,” he added.
Kowili Sub-location counsellor George Awino praised the initiative, saying it has significantly reduced school dropout rates in the area, which has long struggled with poverty and lack of reliable income sources.
“In the past, many children were not going to school due to lack of fees, mainly because this area does not have cash crops that can generate income.
Since this initiative was introduced under the leadership of Ogindo, we have witnessed positive results. Many students who had dropped out have returned to school,” Awino said.
He called on residents of Kowili to continue supporting the programme by pooling resources together for the benefit of education, noting that unity has been key to the fund’s success.
“This initiative has brought us together as a community. The unity we have built has given us strength, and we urge all area residents to come together and support our children’s education,” he said.
Parents also expressed gratitude for the bursary programme. Anna Ongiri, a parent, said the fund has lifted a heavy burden from struggling families.
“We are very thankful. As parents, especially mothers who are not financially stable, this programme has helped us a lot. Today, no child from Kowili is sitting at home because of school fees. We are very happy and we will continue supporting this initiative because it is changing the lives of our children,” she said.
Lencer Kennard, a former beneficiary who studied at Ogande Girls, said the bursary enabled her to stay in school consistently and improve academically.
“In the past, I used to miss classes because of school fees and it was very hard to catch up. Through this fund, I was able to stay in school and keep up with the syllabus,” she said.
Lencer, who scored a B (plain) with 66 points in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, said she now hopes to pursue higher education and become a journalist so that she can give back to her community.
“This support encouraged me a lot. I want to help others in the future the same way I was helped,” she added.
By Sitna Omar
