Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has undertaken a countywide bursary disbursement, during which Sh186 million was released.
He described the initiative as part of a renewed push to improve access to education and ease the financial burden on vulnerable households. At least 25,000 learners have benefited.
The governor led the ward-to-ward engagements, supervising the distribution targeting learners in secondary schools, tertiary institutions and universities.
He said the programme is anchored on fairness and long-term investment in human capital, noting that education remains central to the county’s development agenda.
“Education is the greatest equaliser we have. Every shilling we invest in a learner is an investment in the future stability and prosperity of Uasin Gishu,” Bii said.
He said no child should be forced out of school due to financial hardship.
“We are deliberate in ensuring that no learner from a needy background is left behind. This bursary programme is about dignity, equity and opportunity for all,” he said.
Bii said his administration will continue investing in the education sector, particularly in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, which have recorded increased enrolment in recent years.
“Our intention is to support all learners, including those from less privileged backgrounds, so they can pursue their education to the highest level possible,” he said.
Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea said the bursary disbursement programme was designed to ensure fairness in allocation across all wards without discrimination or bias.
“This is a transparent and equitable process. Every ward has benefited because our focus is not politics, but the child who needs education support,” he said.
Kapkea said the intervention would help reduce school dropouts and improve transition rates across the county.
“When we keep learners in school, we reduce social inequality and build stronger communities. That is the real impact of this bursary programme,” he said.
The 2026 rollout follows last year’s delay in bursary disbursement due to regulatory restrictions imposed by the Controller of Budget, alongside a national dispute over whether MPs or county governments should manage bursary programmes.
The stalemate affected several counties, delaying timely access to school fee support for thousands of students.
County officials now say the matter has been resolved, allowing counties to proceed under clearer financial guidelines.
“Last year, we faced administrative and regulatory delays that were beyond our control. With clarity restored, we are now able to deliver support directly to our students,” Governor Bii said.
Uasin Gishu is among 14 counties nationwide that have been cleared to undertake bursary disbursement under the current Controller of Budget framework.
The approval allows compliant counties to implement education support programmes while adhering to strengthened accountability and financial oversight requirements.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the development, saying it will improve transparency and efficiency in bursary allocation.
The programme is being implemented uniformly across all 30 wards, with Bii’s presence in the field reinforcing the administration’s focus on grassroots service delivery.
Residents have welcomed the exercise, describing it as timely relief amid rising education costs.
Bii said the allocation is expected to improve school retention and transition rates across all levels of education.
The governor and his deputy reaffirmed that education will remain a top priority in the county’s development agenda.
“We will continue strengthening education support because it is the foundation of everything else we are building as a county,” Bii said.
