Why we must take bursaries away from MPs

The Auditor‑General’s report on the National Government Constituencies Development Fund for the year ended June 30, 2025, reveals a pattern when it comes to bursaries. Schools deny knowledge of students listed as beneficiaries. Some students appear twice, others receive more than the legal cap, and millions are disbursed without vouchers, receipts, or even a basic paper trail.

The bursary scheme has always been a political tool. MPs use it to reward loyalists, punish opponents and maintain visibility. In a country where poverty is widespread and education is a lifeline, a bursary is political currency.

But no amount of outrage will fix a system that is structurally flawed. As long as MPs control bursaries, corruption is inevitable. The conflict of interest is baked into the design. MPs cannot oversee themselves or be expected to police committees they influence.

Real development will never be achieved if citizens continue to misunderstand the constitutional role of an MP. An MP is a legislator and a steward of public resources. Their duty is to protect funds, strengthen systems and ensure that every shilling reaches the people it is meant to serve.

Reform must begin with removing MPs from direct control of bursary allocations. A national digital portal, where students apply, schools verify enrolment, and allocations are publicly visible, would eliminate ghost beneficiaries and political interference.

County education boards or an independent authority should manage disbursements, with mandatory public disclosure of every beneficiary and every shilling. And misuse of funds must carry real consequences: prosecution, recovery and disqualification from office.

The Sh2.1 billion scandal is not just about money lost. It is about the kind of country we are becoming. A nation that cannot protect the education of its poorest children cannot claim to be serious about development. A Parliament that cannot safeguard public funds cannot claim moral authority. And a society that shrugs at systemic theft cannot claim to value fairness.

But there is hope, and it lies with the generation that has already shown us what civic courage looks like—the Gen Z, who have been affected by bursary failures. The bursary scandal can be a national turning point, led by the youth.

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Job Nyangenya Omanga