The National Government Constituency Development Fund office in Kasipul has disbursed Sh6.5 million to support education of first-year students joining various universities.
About 650 students benefited from the financial support after they sat and passed last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.
The students qualified for direct entry into universities. Each student got Sh10,000 in the allocation.
Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were distributed the bursary cheques to the students, saying it will prevent them from missing out in joining the institutions.
The current economic situation has made it difficult for most parents to adequately support their children's education.
MP Were said there were many parents who had approached him saying their sons and daughters were going to fail to join various universities due to lack of school fees.
“We were disturbed after realising that many students were going to fail to join universities because they lack money. We, therefore, decided to allocate bursary to support them,” Were said.
Speaking on Monday during distribution of the money at NG-CDF office in Oyugis town, the legislator said his objective is to promote education to enable Kasipul to have productive people in future.
The MP said the best way to invest in the people for posterity is through education.
“Education is the best investment for posterity. Supporting children’s education is a way of transforming this constituency in the near future,” he said.
The students were urged to shun non-issues and focus on their education to enable them meet the intended objectives.
Were asked the students to avoid drug abuse and peer pressure that may ruin their future.
“We’ll not support students whose focus will not be about academics. I want students to concentrate on their studies.”
Central Kasipul MCA Bob Obondo lauded the move, saying it will shape the future of many students in the constituency.
“The allocation for students joining universities is a good initiative. We believe that the initiate will transform Kasipul,” Obondo said.
Parents, led by Beatrice Achieng', expressed hopes that the initiative is a relief to them.
“Some of us are widows and lack funds to enable our children to join university. The support has relieved us from,” she said.
Risper Auma, a student, said the funds had motivated her to work hard in her studies.
“Most of us come from poor families and I am sure the money will help us join respective universities,” she said.
