We spent over Sh3.6b on bursaries, Mvurya says in final address

Governor Salim Mvurya. [Moses Omusula, Standard]

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has listed improved access to water and education as his major achievements over the ten years he has been county boss.

In his final state-of-the-county address at the assembly on Thursday, Mvurya said the bursaries that his administration has been giving through a programme dubbed; “Elimu Ni Sasa” have grown from Sh5 million per ward to Sh20 million per ward.

“This has seen thousands of children, especially from poor families, access education,” said the governor. In total, the governor said, Sh3.615 billion has been spent on bursaries, benefiting 6,093 students in national schools, 4,035 students in public universities, and over 75,000 students in extra county and sub-county schools, private universities, and colleges.

“The number of students from our county admitted to national secondary schools grew from 641 students in 2013 to 6,093 this year. Meanwhile, university admissions grew from 165 students in 2013 to 4,035 this year, all thanks to the bursaries,” he said.

The session was presided over by assembly speaker Sammy Ruwa who is vying for governorship as an independent candidate. 

Mvurya is backing his deputy Fatuma Achani to succeed him. She is vying for the seat on a United Democratic Alliance ticket.

The county chief, who is Deputy President William Ruto’s chief campaigner in Coast region, said admission of girls from the region into national schools increased from just 84 students in 2013 to 2,425 at the moment, while general university admission increased from 65 in 2013 to 1,499 at the moment.

“In just a few years from today, we will have achieved the human capital demand for Kwale with a surplus to place in the regional, national and international labour market,” the governor said.

He also cited the establishment of Kwale Teachers Training College at Bang’a in Kinango sub-county for training for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and P1 teachers as another achievement.

Mvurya said the flagship project that will cost Sh300 million has already admitted students even as the county government continues to construct two other phases of the project.

The governor said the county has also invested more than Sh2 billion in the construction of 514 model ECDE centres and the employment of 926 teachers.

On the provision water, the governor said his administration has laid 83 pipelines running to approximately 493 kilometres. Some 326 boreholes have been sunk.