Nandi Senator Proposes Centralization of Bursary Disbursement for Transparency

NANDI — In an effort to enhance equity and transparency in the distribution of educational funds, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has advocated for the centralization of bursary disbursements. This call comes in response to the challenges faced by vulnerable families whose children have been unable to attend school due to financial constraints, despite the availability of funds from multiple sources.

According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke during a consultative meeting on the status of devolution in Nandi County at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, the current system of distributing bursaries through county bursaries, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), and the Ministry of Education has led to inefficiencies and lack of access for deserving students. He announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at harmonizing these bursary schemes to ensure a more equitable and transparent process.

Highlighting the urgency of reform, Cherargei criticized the current state of affairs where children’s education depends on charitable donations and fundraising efforts. He emphasized the need for a streamlined process that consolidates all bursary funds, making it easier for parents to secure financial assistance without navigating through multiple offices.

Furthermore, the senator expressed support for the Ministry of Education’s initiative to centralize school fee payments for students in national schools through the e-Citizen platform. He argued that this system would curb corruption by eliminating unauthorized charges levied by some institutions and ensuring greater accountability and transparency in financial transactions related to education.

The government has indicated that the Directorate of e-Citizen has developed a payment collection mechanism that is both convenient and transparent, allowing school principals to promptly access the funds. The rollout of this new payment system will commence with national schools before expanding to extra county and county schools, ensuring a phased implementation for smooth integration.