About 7,000 college and secondary students whose fees is paid by the Kilifi County Government may not report to school for the new term next week after the Controller of Budget (CoB) Agnes Odhiambo blocked the administration from disbursing Sh490 million to County Ward Scholarship Fund.
Reports indicate the CoB blocked the disbursement claiming that parts of the Ward Scholarship Fund Act establishing the kitty violates the Constitution and sought amendments.
CoB argues that funding of secondary and college education is not a function of the county administration but Governor Amason Kingi Thursday insisted the law was enacted by the county assembly in close consultation with the CoB.
"My administration, with the support of the County Assembly through close consultation with the office of controller of budget came up with the scholarship fund after following all the required guidelines. We are getting frustrated by the budget office that keeps on issuing new conditions," said Mr Kingi.
The governor said he wasn't aware of the changes the CoB wants made in the Act.
Sparked riots
Education Executive Salma Muhiddin confirmed the administration is unable to disburse the Sh490 million after objections from CoB.
"It is true the county government has failed to release the first phase of the Sh490 million from the ward scholarship fund for this financial year after the office of controller of budget issued a circular demanding that we amend the law that created the fund. The Assembly is working on that," said Ms Muhiddin.
She said the county government pays fees to 7,000 needy students, approximately 200 from each of the 35 wards in the county.
Last week, about 200 students at Pwani University in Kilifi County who have been benefiting from the scholarship staged a demonstration after the university blocked them from sitting for their examinations due to non-payment of tuition fees.
In the past financial year, each ward was allocated Sh10 million for bursary but the Assembly increased the allocation to Sh14 million, enabling the county government to budget for Sh490 million per year.
No power
Assembly Speaker Jimmy Kahindi has faulted the office of CoB for issuing the circular.
Speaking at a public forum in Kilifi, Kahindi claimed CoB has no constitutional power to block the release of the money.
"The constitution gives powers to the County Assemblies and the National Parliament to table bills, discuss and either pass them into laws, or reject them. Once that is done, no office or individual, apart from the court of law can intervene," said Kahindi.
The fund's chairperson in the county Getrude Mbeyu has also expressed shock at the funds freeze.
"I am surprised that the CoB has blocked the county government from releasing the funds to pay fees for the needy students," she said.