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{
    "id": 1563853,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1563853/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 261,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "On my part, I join a number of my other colleagues in supporting this Motion. It is one of those issues that this House, through the Committee on Education and even the Audit Committee, has picked a number of issues with regards to the utilization and the award of Bursary Fund, by those who are currently administering it. The Bursary Fund, which is a lot of money, is currently being administered by several agents. These include the county governments, Members of Parliament of the 210 constituencies, women Members of the county, that is the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and at the national level by the Ministry of Education. I congratulate my brother, Sen. Thang’wa, for this Motion because it gives us an opportunity to speak to the challenges of the bursaries. It shows us that despite the intention of the bursary fund, it has never achieved its aim because of what we have talked about. The bursary fund has been politicized to the extent that if you are not a friend to the person administering that particular bursary at the county level, then you might never get it. If you are not related in any way to a Member of County Assembly or a supporter of an MP, governor, or MCA, then you risk not getting the bursary even if you deserve to be a beneficiary of that fund. That politicization is what this Motion speaks to. It states that consolidation of bursary funds will ensure that the rightful children benefit from this fund. They will not have to sing to the tune of a certain political class to get the bursary. I will conclude my remarks because of time, but I need to say that this a very good Motion. We need to support it because it is only the best way to ensure that the rightful people benefit from the bursary. It will also help avoid politicization of the funds. A few weeks ago, the Governor for Bomet County, Governor Barchok, paraded school- going children in a very misguided way. This was due to appreciation or non-appreciation of the fact that the Senate does not oppose issuance of bursaries and support of children who are in need of Government support. It is unfortunate that there is inability to appreciate a clear way of administering this Fund. Those who have benefited from these funds must be known. They should get us the list of the people and institutions that have benefited even if they are Tertiary and Vocational Education Training centres."
}