In a major boost to education accessibility, Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi has officially launched a Ksh100 million bursary kitty. The disbursement marks the final tranche of funding for the current financial year and is aimed at covering school fees for needy students ahead of the second term.
Speaking during the rollout ceremony, Governor Wamatangi emphasized his administration’s commitment to social equity, revealing that individual beneficiaries will receive between Ksh5,000 and Ksh10,000, while exceptionally vulnerable students will be placed on full scholarships.
“We have launched a Ksh100 million bursary kitty, which is the last bunch of this financial year’s disbursements to pay school fees for needy students for the second term,” said Governor Wamatangi. “The disbursements will be done fairly and with integrity to ensure that only deserving students benefit.”
The launch event was highly interactive and drew a large crowd of local residents, education stakeholders, and political leaders. Among the senior county officials in attendance were Dr. Mercy Njagi, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, Gender, Culture, and Social Services, and Emily Nkoroi, the Chief Officer for Education. They were joined by a strong delegation of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and Ward Bursary Committee members.
The atmosphere at the grassroots level was vibrant, punctuated by a performance from popular musician Bahati, who praised the Governor’s development record in Kiambu and rallied residents to support the administration’s transformative agenda.
The event also featured the popular county chant, with the crowd enthusiastically echoing, “This is the spirit, this is the work,” signaling strong public approval for the initiative.
The real-world impact of the county’s educational funding was brought to life when Jane, a student with a disability, took to the podium to share her emotional success story.
Jane recalled how she previously gatecrashed a similar county function, desperate for assistance after facing severe financial barriers that threatened her studies at Thika Technical Training Institute. After pleading directly with Governor Wamatangi, she was granted a full scholarship.
“Truly, Governor, you have given me that opportunity. I am through with my diploma,” Jane told the gathering, tears welling in her eyes. She revealed that she has already secured admission to KCA University this coming September to pursue a degree in Accounting and CPA, and requested the Governor’s continued support for her next academic chapter
Addressing the gathering, Education Chief Officer Emily Nkoroi lauded the Governor’s continuous investment in human capital. She noted that the bursary program directly aligns with the administration’s core slogan of “leaving no child behind.”
Key Impacts of the Kiambu County education programs include enhanced transition rates which is facilitating seamless movement from primary to high schools, and onward to colleges and universities.
Student retention by minimizing school dropouts due to unpaid fee balances, allowing students to focus on achieving high grades and empowerment of vulnerable groups where explicitly targeting people with disabilities and youth from low-income backgrounds.
“Bursary is one of your key programs which resonates with your slogan of leaving no child behind,” Ms. Nkoroi said, addressing the Governor. “With the bursary, there is a good transition to the next level… and at the same time, it gives the students retention and good grades.”
Beyond bursaries, Ms. Nkoroi praised the county’s holistic approach to foundational and tertiary education, highlighting significant infrastructure improvements across Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and Vocational Training Centers (VTCs). The structural upgrades in VTCs, she noted, are successfully drawing young people into technical courses, ultimately enabling them to secure employment and sustain their families.
The Ksh100 million disbursement is expected to hit school accounts in the coming days, offering much-needed relief to thousands of parents across Kiambu County as the second term commences.
