A stakeholders meeting that included Bungoma County education department, Kibingei ward bursary committee and Kibingei ward residents finally led to a solution of awarding the ward bursary to deserving students in the ward after a row had ensued stalling its disbursement for more than two months.
Bungoma County education CEC Berly Mutekhele said they had received two lists one that had been vetted by the ward bursary committee and another one that had been over sighted by the area Member of the County assembly Justus Kibaba.
She said as an office they will have to scrutinize the two lists and come up with a final one that will be awarded the bursary.
She all the people in the lists deserved to be assisted saying those who will not make it on the beneficiaries lists will have to wait for the next disbarment saying the money allocated cannot be able to cater for all the children at once.
She disclosed that it is better they help a few in the first disbursement by giving them a sustainable amount rather than give little amount to many students who will in the end be sent back home for not having completed their fees payment.
“We are going to scrutinize the two lists and by Friday let the allocated money be given to deserving children to ensure they are in school as they have been disadvantaged by the ongoing row and forced to stay at home” she said
Her sentiment were echoed by her Chief Officer Monica Fedha who promised to have the issues raised by Kibingei ward residents be addressed saying many had proposed that the ward bursary committee be disbanded to have an independent one take over for transparency.
However area MCA Justus Kibaba accused his competitors for political witch hunt saying the names provided were for deserving pupils who are either orphans or coming from poor backgrounds who deserve to benefit from the fund.
He called upon them to wait until the seat is declared vacant for them to start campaigning saying they want to divert the resident’s attention by accusing him of taking the ward bursary to non deserving students elsewhere saying it is malicious.
On their part Kibingei ward residents called for disbarment of the ward bursary committee and also proposed for the ward administrator Emmanuel Masungo to be transferred to ease services at the office.
