Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has moved a Senate motion to consolidate all bursary funds into a single, transparent system. His goal is to eliminate duplication, end favoritism, and ensure free and fair secondary education for all.
Thang’wa highlighted inefficiencies in the current system, where bursaries come from multiple sources, including the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF), the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), county governments, and the Ministry of Education. He criticized the government for budgeting without knowing the actual cost of education per child, leaving many deserving students struggling with fees.
The senator condemned nepotism, favoritism, and political interference in bursary distribution. He argued that a unified, audited system would guarantee that financial aid reaches the students who need it most. “If we account for every shilling and direct it to classrooms, no child will ever be sent home for fees again. That is the Kenya we must build,” he declared.
His motion demands an audit of all bursary allocations and proposes consolidating funds to schools as supplementary capitation rather than dispersing them through multiple channels. He believes this would help achieve free secondary education and ease financial burdens for students.
Thang’wa also urged the government to calculate and publish the cost of education per student across all levels. “We need a detailed breakdown of annual financial requirements for each learner nationwide,” he stated.
If passed, the motion could bring significant reforms to Kenya’s education system, improving fiscal discipline, transparency, and bursary fund efficiency. While many support the proposal, some stakeholders remain cautious about its implementation. Success will depend on the government’s ability to establish a robust framework for managing and distributing consolidated funds.
