Sabatia students receive bursaries amid call for timely disbursement of funds

Over 5000 needy students from Sabatia Constituency have benefited from Sh25.3 million in bursaries  from the area National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to help cover school fees.  

The students, drawn from both boarding and day secondary schools, received bursaries that will significantly support tuition payments and ease the financial burden on parents.

The funds are aimed at assisting some of the most vulnerable households, which have been severely affected by the tough economic times, by ensuring that learners' studies are not disrupted.

While overseeing the disbursement, Sabatia MP Clement Sloya said the bursaries are intended to alleviate the cost of education for students in secondary schools and special needs institutions.

“The initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure that all learners, regardless of their background, have access to quality education,” Sloya said.

He instructed the NG-CDF Constituency Committee to employ a strict follow-up mechanism to monitor the academic and general performance of the beneficiaries.

“We must get value for money, and that is why it is important to have an elaborate follow-up on performance to ensure quality outcomes,” said the lawmaker.

Stakeholders emphasized the critical role the bursary program plays in promoting equal educational opportunities and uplifting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.

This comes amid ongoing discussions about scrapping of NG-CDF and growing concerns over delays in the disbursement of school capitation funds.

Like many members of the National Assembly, Sloya expressed concern over the prolonged delay in disbursing funds by the NG-CDF Board.

The delays, he said, are jeopardizing vital development projects, especially those related to education, infrastructure, and community support programs.

The lawmaker also used the occasion to criticize Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his Education counterpart Migos Ogamba for what he described as a continued failure to release capitation funds on time.

Sloya warned that the delay in releasing the funds is crippling the operations of many public schools, particularly in rural areas where parents rely heavily on government subsidies.

“Schools are struggling to pay support staff, settle utility bills, and feed students. This is not just poor planning, it is negligence. The government must prioritize the education of our children if we are to secure the country’s future,” he said.

Addressing recent calls for the disbandment of the NG-CDF, Sloya strongly defended the fund, warning against any attempts to scrap it.

“CDF is not money for MPs. It belongs to the Kenyan taxpayers whose children depend on it for school fees, development, and dignity,” Sloya said.