Hundreds of vulnerable students in Kiambu County will report back to school this week with renewed hope after receiving bursary support from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), easing the financial burden on their families as learning resumes following the mid-term break.
The Kiambu County Woman Representative, Anne Wamuratha, disbursed bursary cheques worth KSh14 million to support students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring many learners are able to return to class without the fear of being sent home over unpaid school fees.
The bursary programme benefited students from all the 12 constituencies in Kiambu County, with 900 bursary applications approved. Priority was given to orphans, learners living with disabilities and students from needy households.
Beneficiaries welcomed the timely intervention, saying the financial assistance had come at a critical moment as schools reopen for the second half of the term.
Several students said the bursaries would enable them to continue with their education uninterrupted, noting that previous fee arrears had exposed them to the risk of being sent home. They expressed gratitude to the NGAAF programme, saying it had restored hope to many families struggling with the rising cost of education.
Speaking during the bursary distribution exercise, officials from the Kiambu NGAAF office acknowledged that although the programme has transformed the lives of many learners, the available allocation remains insufficient to meet the growing demand.
Office Assistant Anita Nungari said the KSh14 million allocation had been distributed across all the 12 constituencies, but many deserving applicants could not be accommodated due to limited funding.
She explained that NGAAF board members in every sub-county identify the most deserving beneficiaries, with special consideration given to orphans, students living with disabilities and children from vulnerable families.
“We continue to receive many applications from needy students across the county. The available funds are not enough to support everyone, and we appeal for an increase in the bursary allocation so that more children can remain in school,” she said.
Nungari added that students who missed out on the current bursary allocation would be considered under the NGAAF scholarship programme, where the most vulnerable learners receive continued educational support until they complete their studies.
Anne Wamuratha reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that the neediest students receive first priority whenever bursary funds are allocated.
She said no child should be denied an education because of financial hardship, adding that her office remains committed to expanding access to education through bursaries and scholarships.
“As schools reopen, I urge all beneficiaries to take advantage of this opportunity by concentrating on their studies and working hard to improve their academic performance. Education is the greatest investment you can make for your future,” Wamuratha said.
Besides paying school fees, the Woman Representative’s office also provides additional financial support to students for other educational expenses. Day scholars receive KSh5,000, while boarding school students, university learners and students living with disabilities each receive KSh10,000 as supplementary support.
The NGAAF office also cautioned members of the public against photocopying serialized bursary application forms, saying the practice complicates verification and delays the allocation process.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the bursary programme, saying it continues to play a critical role in improving school retention and ensuring learners from disadvantaged backgrounds remain in class despite economic challenges facing many households.
