The Narok County Government has launched the 2024/2025 bursary programme worth Sh. 400 million to benefit 47, 308 needy and vulnerable children across the six constituencies in the county.
Among the beneficiaries are 1, 600 students in secondary schools and tertiary level who are on full scholarship.
Speaking while launching the bursary distribution at the Narok County Government headquarters, the area governor Patrick Ntutu said the program is one of the flagship projects that continues to transform the lives of students and alleviate the burden of school fees for numerous households.
He recalled that in his first year in office, he distributed Sh. 372 million worth of bursary funds that benefitted 37, 423 students while in the second year, he distributed Sh. 400 million that benefited 47, 308 students across the county.
In a bid to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability in the bursary disbursement, the county government has adopted the digital disbursement system to identify the beneficiaries and avoid double allocation.
Further, the county has transitioned to issuing bursaries through banker’s cheques to eliminate any loopholes on corruption.
“This year, after conducting a thorough evaluation of the previous disbursement process and identifying areas for improvement, we have implemented this new approach to fight corruption and eliminate potential loopholes,” he said.
He underscored his administration’s unwavering commitment to uphold integrity and ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries without compromise.
“Education is not a privilege but a right to all children. No child should be denied education due to financial constraints,” he said.
Bursary programs aim to promote equity in education and learning, reduce and completely eradicate cases of school dropouts due to lack of school fees and to inspire students to believe in themselves as they work towards their dreams.
“This program is not just about distributing funds, it is about fostering hope, nurturing talent, and building a future we can all be proud of,” he underscored.
The students were also reminded that they are the architects of their own lives so that they can work hard and remain focused on their studies.
“The bursary you receive today is an investment in your dreams – make it count,” advised the first-time governor.
Present during the occasion were Narok South Member of Parliament Kitilai Ole Ntutu, Emurua Dikir MP Johanah Ng’eno and Narok county women representative Rebecca Tonkei.
Ngeno said the bursaries unlock the potential of needy and vulnerable children as they too get a chance of going to schools without disturbance.
He confessed that many young people from his jurisdiction who were on the verge of dropping out of school before they received bursaries are now great people in the society.
Ms. Tonkei urged parents and guardians to take their role of being the first mentors of their children and support them by encouraging them to remain focused.
She reiterated that education is the best equalizer of all children regardless of their backgrounds as they all have the potential of becoming professionals in the future.
The children who benefited from the bursaries were selected from every village with the help of the sub county and ward administrators.
The leaders warned against double allocation of bursaries, saying those who benefited from the county government bursary should not receive anything from the Members of Parliament or any other charitable organizations.
By Ann Salaton