In a historic move, all 26,000 students from Saboti constituency who applied for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) have received bursaries without undergoing the vetting process.
The historic move aimed at promoting education and supporting vulnerable families within Saboti was presided over by area Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi in Matisi Ward.
Amisi said the issuance will continue in the remaining wards within Saboti throughout the week.
Who is eligible for bursaries?
Speaking during the exercise, Amisi said it is the beginning of many, doing away with the vetting process that has since seen students from vulnerable families disadvantaged, with all applicants dimmed eleigible of the bursary.
“Education remains our strongest equaliser in Saboti. We are deliberate, fair and inclusive. All people who applied for the bursary did not go through the vetting process, as it was difficult to exclude the applicants. Some received their bursaries in the first phase and those who missed are receiving them today. We received 26,000 applications. History in the making. Na bado,” Amisi said.
However, Amisi said the delay was due to the disbursement process being delayed by the treasury, releasing the funds in phases, making it difficult for all applicants to receive the bursaries on time.
“The National government gives about KSh 60-70 million for bursaries, which comes in phases and is not enough for all applicants, but I have to ensure all have received,” Amisi clarified on the delayed disbursement.
Amisi distributed cheques in 10 polling stations across Matisi ward on the second disbursement of the bursary on the first day, including Matisi Primary School, Cattle Dip, Chetto Primary School, St. Joseph’s, Grassland, Farm Prison Primary, Main Prison and Top Station.
He further highlighted the work the NG-CDF has done during his tenure, ensuring schools have a better learning environment, with almost every school in the constituency having at least a storey building.
“As of late, there is no school in Saboti Constituency that has no storey building without the name Caleb Amisi, from Matisi, to Top Station to Lukhuna,” he highlighted.
Grade 10 admission
He further called out the Ministry of Education on the impartial distribution of grade 10 students transitioning to the current Curriculum Based Education (CBE), with some schools having almost no students, while some parents are struggling because their children have no admission numbers.
“We need to ask the Ministry of Education, a parent cannot be burdened by school fees and again going around looking for schools for their children to learn. That should be the responsibility of the government, to do placement after releasing the exam. We should not burden parents,” Amisi said.
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