The proposed bursary scheme is welcome but...

Members of Parliament have hijacked the bursary scheme under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Being the appointing authority, they appoint their close allies, clansmen and other family members to the CDF committee or sub-committees.

But CDF was recently declared illegal. Being the lawmakers, MPs have threatened to amend the Constitution in a bid to remain relevant in so far as “eating” is concerned.

As our MPs have been known for their political shenanigans here at home and even in The Hague, they have put up a brave face with an initiative to have Treasury set up a bursary scheme – under the Basic Education (Amendment Bill) Act.

The Legislature, however, has cleverly designed it in a manner that would convince any right-thinking Kenyan to endorse it. They say it is for bright but needy students that if enacted, the law will fulfill a key requirement – the right to education as stipulated in the Constitution.

If properly managed, the push by MPs of the National Assembly's Education Committee is well thought out. It would restore everyone’s confidence. But given the existing weak ethical infrastructure in our country, political greed would disrupt the noble cause. But if carefully and well-designed, it would not only give hope but bear fruit quickly.

Education being key to development and progress, it must be supported fully given the fact that facilitation would ensure continuity and expansion of the human resource pool.

But with political greed, corruption, lack of transparency and integrity being deeply rooted in almost in all sectors, there is need for better administration and management of such public funds. This would ensure that the money is not misappropriated as is the case with CDF.

The Kenyan education system today deserves exclusively well-determined personnel to run the fund. This will in turn ensure genuine vetting that will see only deserving needy learners from both primary and secondary up to college level benefit.

The only way of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor is educating the masses.