Governor Launches Sh.53M Bursary Kitty
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich has lauched Sh. 53 Million bursary kitty earmarked to benefit 4,428 students.
Out of this, over 200 students in each of the 20 Electoral Wards will benefit from the disbursement that will be channeled to Secondary schools, colleges and Universities.
“We have moved with speed to ease the vetting process to ensure we have disbursed the bursary under One month period,” said Rotich.
He said:”Investing resources in education is always the shortcut to eradication of poverty in the society,”
Edwin Kibor the County minister in charge of Education and Technical Training said the Education fund under his docket catered for bursary, Capitation and governor Rotich overseas ‘Pepea’ scholarship program.
The beneficiaries get between a minimum of Sh 8,000 to Sh20,000 maximum guided by education Act 2016, said Kibor.
“We have made an amendment proposal to the fund in the County Assembly and going forward, we shall be Keen to establish a bursary revolving fund so that we can sponsor people and ensure they pay back so that it can benefit others,” said the CEC.
Governor Rotich however said his administration was keen to ensure jobless youth are enrolled in technical training as a way of fighting unemployment.
He said his administration will establish an industrial park in the County measuring 100 acres upon which investors will be invited to utilize and create employment opportunities for young people.
Consequently, he directed the County Assembly to form an adhoc Committee that will scout for the suitable location where the facility will be established.
He said he was pleased by the high number of farmers who have demonstrated interest to put their farms under cash crop farming.
According to the governor, 4,000 farmers have registered to put their farms under pyrethrum growing while others will plant Tea, Avocado and Macadamia,
“The reason why we are doing all these interventions is because Poverty is so unforgiving. It can destroy you and your entire generation if you don’t eliminate it and therefore we must strive to server the ties completely,” said the governor
Paul Chemmuttut, the County Secretary said if majority of the population in Elgeyo Marakwet County implemented Governor Rotich call for “Kilimo Biashara”, there will be less dependency on bursaries since the community will have apprehended poverty.
County Assembly Committee Chairperson on Education Hon. Christopher Cheboiboch called on education managers to always exercise patience with learners in the event of bursary disbursement delays.
According to nominated MCA Peris Kiptoo who hail from the bandit ravaged Kerio Valley, majority of learners in the region were orphans.
She called on the governor to consider increasing the allocation to cater for the vulnerable learners in Kerio Valley belt.
Members of the County Assembly MCAs, Pricila Kurgat (Lelan) Simon Chepseba (Soy North) and Davies Biwott,(nominated), were in attendance.
Deputy Governor H.E. Prof Grace Cheserek and a host of CECMs were also in attendance as well as representatives from various Vocational Training Centres VTCs and the Banking institutions.
Representatives drawn from various Vocational Training Centres VTCs including Kerio Valley, Chepsirei, Kipsoen, Kapcherop among others were also present.
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