Written By Lisa Murimi
The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee has recommended the abolishment of bursary funds established by county governments.
The committee’s report to the Senate asserts that education funding at primary, secondary, tertiary, and university levels exceeds the constitutional mandate of county governments.
“Governors should ensure that all county-established bursary funds are abolished,” the report states, citing the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, which limits county roles in education to pre-primary, polytechnics, home craft centres, and childcare facilities.
The committee argued that counties allocating funds for bursaries at other levels divert resources from essential functions.
Senators further criticized the lack of proper regulation and transparency, highlighting cases where students received multiple bursaries within a county, creating inequities.
Governors, however, defend the funds, emphasizing their role in assisting disadvantaged students overlooked by national government scholarships.
Mombasa Governor, for instance, called for Senate support in preserving county-funded bursaries.
The report recommends governors develop county-specific legislation to regulate bursaries and align them with constitutional mandates.
It also urges counties to strengthen legal advisory offices to ensure compliance with devolved governance principles.
The proposal is expected to face resistance from governors and MCAs, who often use bursaries to build political goodwill among constituents.
