Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has voiced strong opposition to proposals to scrap county bursaries, arguing that such a move would severely impact poor students who rely on them for their education. His comments come amid ongoing debates on the practicality and legality of county bursary schemes in light of devolved and national education functions.
Sakaja highlighted the critical role bursaries play in bridging the financial gap for many struggling families. “The reality is that many of our people are struggling. Many parents do not have money to pay their children’s school fees,” Sakaja said, emphasizing the importance of these funds in keeping students in school.
The governor pointed out that county governments are directly responsible for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. As such, they are uniquely positioned to identify and support students in need. “We can always have a way. We can even call it a welfare kitty, but it is not possible to do away with bursaries in counties,” he stated.
A Lifeline for Vulnerable Learners
Sakaja underscored that many students, particularly those from informal settlements such as Kibera and Kawangware, depend entirely on these bursaries to access education. Eliminating this financial lifeline would jeopardize their futures. “We are dealing with those whose futures are at stake,” he noted, urging policymakers to move away from rigid legalistic interpretations and instead focus on the human impact of their decisions.
He also questioned the practicality of some recommendations that fail to consider the realities on the ground. Using the example of water, a devolved function, Sakaja asked whether counties should withhold water supply to primary or secondary schools simply because education at those levels is not devolved. “Today, water is a devolved function. Should I not supply water to primary or secondary schools because education at that level is not devolved? It is not practical,” he argued.
Intergovernmental Agreements to Safeguard Education
In Nairobi, the county government has signed an intergovernmental agreement with the national government to ensure that vulnerable children are not forced out of school due to financial constraints. Sakaja called on the Senate and other stakeholders to recommend increased funding for bursaries rather than proposing their elimination.
“What the senators should recommend is the government should increase the allocation towards bursaries so that we can support these children,” he said, reflecting on his own experience of benefiting from bursaries in the past.
Moral and Constitutional Duty
Sakaja invoked both the constitution and moral obligations to emphasize the necessity of supporting education for all children, regardless of their financial background. “Let us make education available for our children who cannot afford it. That is what the constitution says. That is what the Bible says,” he remarked.
He urged sensitivity towards the plight of children across Kenya, from the informal settlements of Nairobi to rural areas like Kakamega and Lamu. “Let us be sensitive to the plight of that girl in Kibera, that boy in Kawangware, and those who cannot go to school in Kakamega, Lamu, and every corner of this country,” Sakaja appealed.
The Way Forward
To address the education funding challenges, Sakaja proposed practical solutions, such as rebranding bursary programs to align with constitutional mandates and increasing their funding to cover more students. He also called for a balanced approach that considers the welfare of vulnerable learners while addressing any legal or structural concerns.
As the debate continues, Sakaja’s passionate defense of county bursaries has put a spotlight on the critical role these programs play in fostering equal educational opportunities. His stance is a call to action for policymakers to prioritize the needs of Kenya’s most vulnerable children and ensure that no student is left behind due to lack of school fees.
