Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah of Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County, has allocated Sh40 million for bursaries to support needy students in an initiative aimed at enhancing access to education.
Sh25 million has been allocated to secondary school students, while Sh15 million will benefit students in universities, technical institutes, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions.
Other beneficiaries include students pursuing short courses such as fashion design, plumbing, and catering.
Children with disabilities have been given the first priority to ensure that they receive equal access to education just like their able counterparts.
The demand for bursaries in Kikuyu Constituency is evident from the high number of applicants across various wards in that Kikuyu Ward had 2,500 applicants, Sigona 2,200, Karai 1,800, Nachu 1,348, and Kinoo 734.
“To apply for the bursaries, guardians must first register and verify their voter status, as eligibility is limited to registered voters within the constituency,” said Simon Ngugi, Chairman of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) in Kikuyu Constituency.
Qualified applicants are also required to submit an original birth certificate, a verified fee structure, a copy of the parent or guardian’s original ID, a recent report card, and proof of guardianship if applicable; documents deemed crucial in the vetting process to ensure that funds benefitted the most needy students.
Grace Wambui, a resident of Dagoretti, expressed her gratitude for the programme saying; “The bursary has helped my son who is in Form Four at Muhurumieko Secondary School to continue his education,” she said.
This year’s allocation is Sh5 million higher than the previous year, reflecting the County government’s increased commitment to supporting education in Kikuyu Constituency.
By Nancy Akinyi