Nairobi MCAs slam county government over bursary delays

Nairobi County Assemply proceedings.[Standard, file]

MCAs in Nairobi have faulted the county government over the delayed distribution of bursary funds.

The county executive had promised to give each of the 85 wards in Nairobi at least Sh7 million for bursaries.

In a motion tabled in the county assembly by Kayole Central MCA Jeremiah Themedu yesterday, the ward representatives accused Governor Johnson Sakaja of reneging on many promises he made to them.

Themedu lamented that several learners had dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees.

This come five months after the MCAs passed the 2023/24 budget where the ward bursaries kitty was increased, from the initial Sh3 million per ward.

"Despite the commitment by the county executive, bursary cheques have not been released and the government is not saying anything," Woodley Kenyatta Golf Course MCA Davidson Ngibuini said.

"We cannot say that this great city is working because we are not taking our children to school. It is a sad state of affairs when money is being collected every day," said Ngibuini.

The members linked delays in releasing bursary money to alleged mismanagement of finances at City Hall.

"Nairobi County declared that it collected Sh10.6 billion in the last financial year. If this is divided by 365 days in a year, the county collected about Sh29 million per day," Ngibuini said.

He added: "Our bursaries is Sh7 million per ward. If you multiply that by the 85 wards, you get about 595 million, money that will take the county government just 20 days to raise.