LODWAR — Turkana residents have raised serious concerns over the management and utilization of county bursary funds, as financially disadvantaged students struggle to raise tuition fees for university and higher education institutions ahead of the September intake.
The residents are questioning county leaders, local Members of Parliament, and the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education regarding the overall effectiveness of the bursary programme. They report that numerous deserving students remain unable to join institutions of higher learning despite securing valid admission letters.
Several students who recently completed secondary school and secured university placements are reportedly unable to report for their studies as the September intake deadline approaches, purely due to an inability to raise required fees.
One resident, Master Bakari, questioned the core purpose of the county bursary initiative if it fails to intervene during critical transitions.
“What role is the county bursary programme playing in cases like this? If a deserving student from a humble background has secured admission to university but is unable to raise fees, this is exactly where bursary support should make a difference,” Bakari stated.
Bakari urged the Education Department and the local bursary committee to urgently assess cases involving needy students and provide immediate financial support to those who qualify.
“We should not wait until a young Turkana student’s university dream collapses before asking questions. The Education Department and the bursary committee should urgently assess this case and, where she qualifies, support her. Education is not a privilege for the well-connected. It should be an opportunity for every deserving child of Turkana,” he said, while also appealing to well-wishers to step in.
Another resident, known as The Straw Man, challenged the actual disposition of the funds given the vast sums allocated annually.
“There is a Sh900 million bursary, yet there are students who have failed to raise fees. MPs and the CECM for Education should tell us where our bursary money is going,” he said.
Echoing these concerns, Talian Hindrah called for clear accountability within the sector, urging political leaders to prioritize educational results over campaign ambitions.
“The CECM is busy looking for an MP seat, while residents first need to see results in education. Let us leave politics aside and tell us where our bursary money is,” Hindrah added.
Community members are demanding full transparency regarding how bursary funds are allocated, how beneficiaries are identified, and what immediate measures are being put in place to ensure vulnerable, qualifying students receive support before the September intake closes.
