By Suleiman Mbatiah
The County Government of Nakuru has increased its bursary allocation to Sh440 million for the current financial year, up from Sh342 million last year, in a move aimed at expanding access to education across all levels.
Governor Susan Kihika said the funds will benefit 49,865 students in secondary schools, colleges, and universities across the county. She noted that the first tranche of Sh165 million had already been disbursed earlier in the year to ensure timely support for learners.
“Our efforts have been directed toward strengthening the foundation of education and skills development across the county to ensure every child and youth has access to quality learning opportunities,” she said.
The increased allocation marks a steady rise in the county’s investment in education since Governor Kihika took office. In her first year, the county set aside Sh177.8 million for bursaries before raising the figure to Sh342 million last year.
According to the governor, the bursary programme has been instrumental in keeping thousands of learners in school, especially those from low-income families. She added that the county will continue strengthening early childhood and vocational training initiatives to build a strong educational foundation.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to improving the quality of early childhood education by ensuring that our learners are guided by qualified and motivated educators,” she said.
Education stakeholders in the county have welcomed the initiative, noting that the bursary fund continues to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians struggling to meet the rising cost of education.
Governor Kihika urged community leaders, education officials, and parents to take an active role in monitoring the bursary programme, emphasizing that collective oversight is essential for transparency, accountability, and fairness in the allocation and distribution of the funds.
The bursary application process for the first tranche of the 2025/2026 Financial Year is underway. Applicants are required to return duly filled forms to their respective Ward Administrators by Tuesday next week.
Ward Bursary Committees will review and generate ward lists from November 3 to November 7, followed by the submission of forms and data to the County Secretariat between November 10 and November 12, 2025. The County Bursary Committee will then scrutinize and verify the ward lists from November 13 to November 26, after which county-wide lists will be generated and funds requisitioned by November 28, 2025.
Signing of cheques, vouchers, and applicant lists will take place from December 8 to December 19, paving the way for the official launch and disbursement of funds to learning institutions between January and February 2026.
Governor Kihika encouraged parents, students, and community leaders to take part in ensuring transparency and fairness in her administration’s effort to empower families through education and guarantee that no child misses school due to financial hardship.
“Education remains the most powerful tool we can offer them; through it, we break the chains of poverty and open doors to a brighter, more hopeful future,” she stated while appraising President William during a three days development tour of Nakuru County.
The county has also invested heavily in ECDE and vocational training, employing 498 new teachers, building additional classrooms, and expanding vocational centres to equip learners with skills for the job market.