More than 1,800 university and college students in Muhoroni constituency, Kisumu county, have benefited from Sh15.7 million bursary.
The money from National Government Constituency Development Fund was disbursed to 1,803 students from Masogo/Nyang’oma, Chemelil/Tamu, Miwani, Muhoroni/Koru and Ombeyi wards.
Muhoroni CDF chairman Bernard Del presided over the disbursement on behalf of area MP Onyango Koyoo at Nyangoma chiefs camp.
Of the 1,803 beneficiaries, 1,039 university students received Sh10.4 million while 764 college students got Sh5.3 million.
Del said students in university received Sh10,000 each with Sh7,000 for those in colleges and tertiary institutions.
He was accompanied by Muhoroni constituency manager Sospeter Ngere, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman George Ombok and Muhoroni subcounty education director Rebecca Maritim and other education stakeholders.
Del said the CDF committee under the leadership of Koyoo was committed to improving education in Muhoroni.
“Education is one of our major development agenda because as it is the greatest equaliser and investment we can give our children,” he said.
In two weeks, the chairman announced that Koyoo will preside over the disbursement of bursary to students in day and boarding schools in subcounty, county and extra-county.
A total of 10,000 students have applied. Early this year, the MP issued Sh12.5 million to fully sponsored 234 students in national schools across the country.
In March, 211 fully sponsored university students who qualified to pursue medicine, engineering, architecture and law benefited from a Sh8.4 million bursary.
Last year, Koyoo disbursed Sh30 million bursary to over 5,000 students in day and boarding schools.
Ngere appealed to school principals in Muhoroni to focus on quality education.
“We want to transform Muhoroni into an education hub. The main objective of the MP is to produce professionals in various sectors,” he said.
Ngere said Koyoo was committed to ensure all those who qualify for professional courses at the end of four years will have their education fully sponsored.
Besides bursary, the MP said the NG-CDF purchased three buses for Prof Ayiecho Obumba Secondary (Ombeyi), Ngere Kagoro Secondary (Masongo Nyangoma) and Oginga Odinga Tamu Secondary (Chemelil Tamu) in 2022/2023.
Further, the CDF also planned to buy three buses for Olik Oliero Secondary School, St Boniface Magare Secondary and Our Lady Queen of Peace Muhoroni Factory.
Ngere said schools in Muhoroni and markets have been connected to electricity. “We are continuing with building of classrooms in various schools across the constituency,” he added.
In February last year, he disbursed Sh3.5 million to 61 students joining Form 1 in national schools.
The MP initiated the scheme in 2014. He said Muhoroni constituency has produced a number of professionals.
Koyoo said his mission is to enable Muhoroni produce top lawyers, doctors, engineers and other professionals through the sponsorships he has initiated.
The MP said his office has been tracking the performance of the students under the programme. “The statistics in the CDF office indicate that most of the sponsored students have joined universities," he said.
The bursary fund is disbursed in five categories; national schools, special-course universities, vulnerable students, colleges, universities and secondary schools.
He said university students will continue getting support. Koyoo urged the beneficiaries to work hard and be disciplined.