Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has opposed plans by the Senate and National Assembly on the abolishment of bursary funds initiated by the devolved units.
Both the Senate and National Assembly have proposed consolidation of all bursaries to ensure equity.
The National Assembly led by its Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said they will formulate a Bill that will define a structure for the administration of all public bursaries and scholarships.
The Bill seeks to generate policy to amalgamate and consolidate all the education funding opportunities, including bursaries and scholarships from public funds by the Ministry of Education, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF), County governments and financial institutions to provide free universal education for all children.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda called for the scrapping of the fund as part of austerity measure.
However, Mr Nassir urged the Senate to support and strengthen county governments in boosting education by supporting bursaries.
"The proposal that counties should stop paying school fees for secondary school students that it is a national government mandate is absurd. The state ought to know that education is supposed to be free and compulsory. If our children do not go to school due to fees challenges, what will become of them?" he asked.
He said counties should compliment national government by initiating bursary programs to keep learners in schools.
Mr Nassir said county bursaries have helped hundreds of learners from marginalised communities in devolved units access education.
"I will present a proposal to the Senate to justify the continued support of education through bursaries by county governments," said Mr Nassir during the Jamhuri Day celebrations held at Mwahima Grounds in Likoni.
“As counties, we must step in to fill the gaps and ensure no child is left behind because of financial constraints. Many families in Mombasa face, particularly in informal settlements, where school fees and other related costs remain a significant barrier despite the national government’s efforts to provide subsidized education,” he said.
Through Mombasa county bursary programs, Mr Nassir said he has managed to keep thousands of children in school.
"But this proposal at the Senate calling for scrapping bursaries will derail devolution,” he added.
Governor Nassir said counties are better placed to administer bursaries effectively due to their proximity to the people and understanding of local needs.
He said the provision of bursaries will ensure counties complement the national government’s role in education, bridging access gaps and empowering marginalized communities.
"The Senate should recognise bursary programs as a critical intervention by county governments, alongside additional budgetary allocations to strengthen these initiatives," he added.
On September 25, 2024 MPs began debating on the Motion that seeks to reform the country’s education bursary schemes to ensure free and compulsory basic education for all.
The Motion, sponsored by Nairobi County MP, Ms Esther Passaris, aims to consolidate the multiple bursary schemes into a unified system to enhance transparency, efficiency, and access to education.
Ms Passaris said that the Constitutional right of every child to access free and compulsory education, as enshrined in Articles 43(1) and 53(1) (b) of the Constitution. It also seeks to address the persistent challenges faced by the current bursary system, including lack of transparency, delays in disbursements, and insufficient coverage of educational costs.
“Education is a right, not a privilege. When I say free, I mean we have to provide the uniform, the books; we have to provide the teachers. No child should be left behind due to financial constraints,” Ms Passaris said while moving the Motion.
The motion proposes collapsing all existing bursary schemes — including the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and other county and ward-based schemes — into one fund managed by the Ministry of Education.
The consolidated funds would be remitted directly to schools, ensuring that every child benefits from free basic education.
