Students storm CDF offices over delayed bursary cash

Kakamega, Kenya: More than 100 students of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) stormed the Malava Constituency Development Funds (CDF) offices to demand the release of their bursary funds.

The students blamed Malava MP Moses Injendi for the delay, citing irregularities in funds’ distribution.

They claimed the few students who got the money were awarded less than they were promised.

 “The students were promised Sh15,000 each but only a few have received Sh5,000, while some who got the money are no longer students,” said Enock Munala, a student at the university.

They also allege unfairness in the distribution of the fund, since some students who were awarded in March this year are still on the pending list. 

The MP is also accused of awarding more students from East Kabras, where he hails from, leaving out deserving needy cases in other divisions.

UNDESERVING CASES

“Out of the 67 students who have qualified to get bursary aid, 27 are from East Kabras, two from South Kabras while North Kabras has no beneficiary,” Munala stated.

Boniface Masai, a member of the CDF committee told The Standard that the Malava CDF office was riddled with corruption.

He claims a number of genuinely deserving university cases are usually swapped with undeserving students.

“What is affecting the CDF office in Malava is corruption, ignorance, impunity and laxity. Some officials are using the office for their personal gain. The money is being misappropriated during the process of disbursing cheques,” he claimed.

BLAME TREASURY

In his defence, Injendi chose to use the social media, saying he had not received the full amount from Treasury.

“What defeats me is the lack of understanding by Mmust students. I have explained to their leadership that the number of applicants went up because of the renewed hope of being considered,” he said.

Mr Injendi said the funds are not flowing in the constituencies as expected, so he started with the most deserving.

He castigated the students for demonstrating against him, saying they should have protested against the national government.

“The best option would have been to demonstrate against Treasury, which has not even disbursed the Uwezo funds, up to now,” said Injendi.

But Masai blamed the state of affairs on the Malava CDF employees, most of who he said are incompetent and lazy.

“We have incompetent employees at the CDF offices. Procurement laws are not being followed to the letter, especially Chapter 12 of the Constitution, which allows openness and accountability, including public participation in financial matters,” he said.

The MP did not respond to our phone calls to explain Masai’s claims by the time we were going to press.