- County bursaries may not be part of the consolidated funds as stakeholders claim it was illegal.
- Several leaders are at the same time warning against collapsing the schemes in one kitty.
The proposed merger of all bursary funds into a single kitty to cut down the cost of education has run into headwinds with some partners issuing warnings against it.
Some MPs have also raised concerns about the legal avenue of taking back funds from county governments and bunching in one pool managed by the national government.
The lawmakers who spoke to the Star are demanding that focus be put on free education and not another central pot.
They said the funds will be manipulated by the very cartels that made the current model defective.
“The money will still be prone to abuse if it is taken to one central pot in the National Treasury. There is a lot of corruption at the top,” Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo told the Star
The idea, mooted during Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s informal Kamkunji last month, is also facing legal hurdles as some of the bursaries are issued by the two levels of government.
Nyatike MP Tom Odege said the existing bursaries and loans, if combined will meet 80 per cent of all students' needs.
“I have done my mathematics and the funding from these loans, bursaries and scholarships can constitute 80 per cent, leaving only a top up of 20 per cent,” he said.
Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi said counties have no role in funding universities and colleges hence no allocation will be available to the central kitty from the devolved units.
He said the existing bursaries issued by governors and MCAs are illegal.
“Bursaries in counties are unconstitutional, education above ECDE is a national government function. We have been looking at the audit report and what is coming out is that county bursary has been a conduit for corruption,” said Osotsi.
Senate Education Committee chairman Joseph Nyutu said counties have trespassed by issuing bursaries to university and college students as the functions are not devolved.
“Counties are not supposed to issue bursaries, they only have the mandate over ECDEs and Tvets,” he told the Star.
With county bursaries out, it means less cash to the proposed consolidated kitty, which may make it impossible to realise free education dreams.
The MPs are warning against consolidating the remaining kitties in one pot, claiming it will disadvantage learners from poor backgrounds.
While many leaders welcome the move to consolidate the bursaries, fears of a possible misuse are loud with critics raising concerns over fairness in allocation.
The decentralisation of the bursaries and loans was a response to marginalisation that came as a result of putting all resources in Nairobi.
Maanzo said he does not support centralising the kitty for bursary.
Proponents of the merger will also have to deal with MPs who are not keen to cede CDF money.
They say the kitty is the only ‘visible’ education fund for poor learners.
Members of the National Assembly NG-CDF Committee last month pleaded with Kenyans to jealously guard the kitty, to ensure sustained grassroots development.
Led by chairperson Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine), the MPs said the fund has assisted many poor households in addition to upgrading critical learning infrastructure.
"All of us are assembled here to benefit from this crucial kitty and you can clearly see what the fund is doing in upgrading our learning infrastructure. Any talks or abolishing NG-CDF is ill-intended," he said.
The lawmakers spoke during issuance of NG-CDF bursary cheques to needy learners in Dagoretti-North constituency.
Some of schemes offering bursaries include the National Government Constituency Development Fund, National Government Affirmative Action Fund, county government bursaries and Presidential Secondary School Bursary.
Others are the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development and Presidential Bursary Scheme for Orphans and Vulnerable students.
Then there is the Higher Education Loans Board that gives bursaries to students.
Already, Wetang’ula has written to the Ministry of Education to provide information and data necessary to formulate a policy to guide distribution of bursaries.
In a letter by Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge, Wetang’ula hopes the new policy will ensure fairness and equity in the allocation of the funds.
“We have received a petition that notes that the current uncoordinated approach towards the issuance of bursaries and scholarships from public funds by the Ministry of Education, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund and county governments has, in some instances, led to duplication of awards,” the letter said.
Njoroge said the Speaker has instructed the office of the Clerk to formulate a legislative proposal establishing a defined structure for the administration of public bursaries and scholarships.
“This is, therefore, to request that you furnish us with any relevant information in the possession of the Ministry that may assist in the drafting of the legislative proposal, including any existing policy document or draft Bill,” the letter added.
Under the new funding model, students are categorised into five bands depending on family income as provided by the students.