SIAYA, Kenya, Jan 26 – Siaya governor, James Orengo has launched a sh. 75 million bursary scheme in honour of the late Professor George Magoha.
Orengo said that Magoha, apart from being a great son of Siaya county, served the country well in many capacities in and out of the country.
“As we launch this bursary scheme, we do so in honour and appreciation of a great son of Siaya” said Orengo who had earlier led top county government officials and the public present in observing a minute of silence in honour of the late Magoha.
The governor said Kenyans must continue working hard in their respective fields in honour of the professor who left a mark as a no- nonsense cabinet secretary for education where he is credited with bringing sanity to the country’s national examinations.
On bursaries, Orengo appealed to the ward administrators and other officials involved in selection of learners set to benefit from bursaries to be transparent and uphold integrity in the process.
The governor, who was flanked by his deputy, Dr. William Oduol, said that in order to ascertain legitimacy of those selected to benefit from the bursary, he intends to visit every ward in the county to ensure only those who are truly needy are awarded.
Orengo also called for accountability in awarding the bursaries by having the final lists of beneficiaries from every ward being countersigned by the respective MCA citing it as a way to boost public confidence in the scheme adding that this ensures no deserving individual is left out.
A total of 10,000 students from across the Siaya are set to benefit from the county education bursary fund which will disburse 75 million shillings towards supporting their education.
The Governor, noting that the disbursed amount may not be enough to address the need for bursaries to support the less fortunate learners, expressed optimism that his administration intends to increase the amount significantly in the next financial year.
“We are going to make sure that as many people as possible benefit as 80 per cent of our learners are in day secondary schools and that is one of the areas we shall focus on more as well as the TVETS and other institutions,” said Orengo.
