Governors in Kenya have strongly rebuked the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, over her recent directive that county governments should not issue bursaries. The statement from Nyakang’o, which was issued in a circular, suggested that providing bursaries is solely a responsibility of the national government, a position that the Council of Governors (CoG) argues is not constitutionally founded.
Ahmed Abdullahi, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, has led the charge against this policy, asserting that county governments have every right to issue bursaries to needy students within their jurisdictions. Abdullahi pointed out that the Constitution does not explicitly assign the provision of bursaries to either the national or county governments, thereby leaving room for county governments to support vulnerable students in their areas.
The Governors argue that the policy position from Nyakang’o undermines the social protection efforts of both levels of government, which have been aimed at advancing education as a constitutional right and development agenda. Abdullahi emphasized that the county governments’ role in providing bursaries is not about overstepping national government functions but rather fulfilling a mandate that aligns with their responsibility to serve local communities.
Further, Abdullahi highlighted that the inclusion of bursary allocations in county budgets undergoes a rigorous public participation process, ensuring that the priorities of the local communities are considered. This, he argued, is in line with the principles outlined in Article 174 of the Constitution, which emphasizes the importance of local participation in governance and decision-making. The Fourth Schedule, part (2) paragraph 14, also underscores the responsibility of counties to enhance the educational capacity of their communities.
In her letter to the governors dated January 14, Nyakang’o specifically pointed out that students joining universities and other tertiary institutions should not be recipients of county government bursaries, as this is considered a national government responsibility. However, Abdullahi and his colleagues maintain that this decision disregards the principles of devolution and the local needs of vulnerable students.
The CoG reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations within their counties and pledged to continue pushing for greater recognition of the role counties play in education and social protection.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Controller of Budget will respond to the governors’ objections, and whether this issue will affect the timely disbursement of bursaries for the academic year.
