Bursaries
About 40,000 underprivileged students in Ruiru, Kiambu County, are set to benefit from Sh80 million in bursaries provided by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
The funds provide much-needed relief to thousands of parents who are facing financial difficulties in raising school fees due to the challenging economic conditions in the country.
Ruiru MP Simon King’ara announced that they had set aside Sh80 million for bursaries; with the amount being insufficient given the large number of deserving and needy applicants. Ruiru is the most populous constituency, boasting a population of over 700,000 residents.
While overseeing the funds application exercise in Ruiru on Wednesday, the MP announced that his office had communicated with the NG-CDF board aiming to increase the total to Sh90 million to ensure that all applicants receive the necessary support.
Photos of the bursary application exercise in Ruiru.
Photos by Hellen Lunalo
“We typically receive an overwhelming number of applicants, which compels us to write to the NG-CDF board to request additional funds for bursaries to assist all applicants. So far, we’ve received 40,000 applications, and that number may continue to rise as the deadline for submitting the applications has not yet elapsed.” said King’ara.
The MP explained that he often found himself at an impasse when issuing bursaries, given the large number of applicants from the eight wards of Mwihoko, Mwiki, Kiuu, Gitothua, Biashara, Gatung’ora, Kahawa Sukari, and Kahawa Wendani. The legislator highlighted that numerous parents in the peri-urban constituency were struggling to afford their children’s education due to difficult economic times, unemployment, and rising cost of living.
He emphasized that the NG-CDF fund had been crucial in improving access to education and achieving a 100 percent transition rate. “A majority of our people live from hand to mouth and struggle to provide education for their children. Our NG-CDF allotment is insufficient and cannot effectively support the applicants. We request the government to reconsider increasing the current allocated amount taking into consideration the high population in Ruiru,” said King’ara.
He further emphasized that bursaries often consumed funds intended for other developmental initiatives within the education sector in his constituency, a situation that has compelled his office to explore alternative strategies for implementing projects, including partnerships with corporate entities.
The MP announced that the partnerships had proven to be successful, resulting in the construction of over 50 classrooms in primary and secondary schools throughout the constituency. On the other hand, parents of children who had benefited from the funds called for an increase in the NG-CDF allocations to better support the growing student population in the region.
Photos of the bursary application exercise in Ruiru.
Photos by Hellen Lunalo
Jacinta Mwangi, a local resident, lamented the rising cost of living, citing unemployment as the primary reason she was struggling to afford school fees for her children. “I do not have a stable job, and the current business environment is extremely competitive. I can barely raise enough money for food and shelter and I often depend on bursaries to ensure my children can continue their education,” she said.
The residents urged the government to tackle disparities in the distribution of national resources, particularly in densely populated regions such as Ruiru. The applicants have been receiving between Sh3,000 and Sh7,000, amounts they consider inadequate when compared to the more generous bursaries offered in other sparsely populated constituencies.
They suggested the division of the constituency to optimize resource allocation or increased government funding for the NG-CDF.