Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has maintained her commitment to supporting children with special needs through her bursary program.
She said the inclusion and prioritisation were meant to prepare special needs children to become self-reliant in the future.
The governor appealed to institutions and individuals to work with the County to help needy students, especially those living with disabilities, to access education.
Speaking at Nyayo Garden when she launched the Sh342 million County Bursary for the Financial Year 2023/2024, Kihika said the program would also support Youth Training Vocational programs such as driving to equip the younger generation with skills for self-employment.
She said the fund will be released in two tranches of Sh232,147,679 to the beneficiaries drawn from universities, colleges, vocational institutions, secondary schools and special schools and Sh118,530,795 which will be distributed later in the term to allow time for form one students who are currently being admitted to schools.
“Education is the common denominator and it is the very oil that drives my government to ensure that it keeps students in school regardless of their family backgrounds,” she said.
Kihika said in a bid to fulfil her commitment to assist students from needy backgrounds to either access or continue with their education, her administration allocated Sh342 million towards the County Bursary program which was almost double last year’s fund.
Last year, the County Government of Nakuru allocated Sh177.8 million for education bursaries.
“Equally, the county government has increased the number of beneficiaries from last year’s 48,080 students to 60,425 drawn from all the 11 Sub-Counties of Nakuru County,” she said.
The Governor appealed to day secondary schools’ administration to stop sending students home for lunch fees saying that basic education was a constitutional right of every child.
She said the beneficiaries were meticulously vetted by a selection panel that involved elected leaders, teachers and our team at the County Government.
