Governor Simba Arati Announces KSh78 Million Bursary Boost for Form One Students in Kisii County

Governor Simba Arati has announced the release of KSh78 million in bursaries specifically aimed at supporting Form One students. This initiative, unveiled during his meet-the-people tour in Kisii town on July 3, promises to ensure that all students transitioning to secondary school in the county receive the necessary financial support.

Governor Arati emphasized that the funds would be distributed equally among the 45 wards in Kisii County. This approach aims to ensure fair and balanced access to educational resources for all students, regardless of their geographical location. The governor noted that Form One students were initially left out of the earlier disbursement of county education bursaries, which catered to students in Forms Two through Four. This exclusion was due to the students not being settled in school at the time, making it difficult to process their application forms.

In addition to the bursary announcement, Governor Arati addressed recent events in the county. He expressed dismay at the actions of individuals who took advantage of a peaceful protest by the GenZ movement to loot property. The governor called on the police to protect the citizens and their belongings.

The protests, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in one man’s death and several others being hospitalized. Governor Arati and his entourage visited the casualties to offer their support. He defended the GenZ movement, highlighting their democratic right to peaceful demonstrations, while condemning the actions of goons who, he claimed, were transported from other parts of the country to incite chaos in Kisii.

The governor was accompanied by several Members of County Assembly (MCAs), including Majority Leader Henry Moracha, Wilfred Monyenye (Kisii Central Ward), Duke Nyarang’o (Kitutu Central), Steve Arika (Ibeno), and Ibrahim Mose (Bobaracho Ward). MCA Moracha requested that the governor waive hospital bills for those injured during the protests and cover the burial expenses of the deceased.

Narita Oumeke, CEO of Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, provided an update on the casualties from the protest. The hospital admitted numerous individuals, including a primary school teacher and an expectant mother in her 34th week of pregnancy, all with varying degrees of injuries. As of the latest reports, 22 individuals remain in the hospital, eight have been treated and discharged, and two are in critical condition in the theatre room.