The County Government of Wajir County has officially launched a KES 110 million bursary program aimed at supporting thousands of needy students across the county, in what leaders have described as a major step toward improving access to education and supporting vulnerable families.
The bursary program will benefit 21,000 students selected from a total of 46,320 applicants, reflecting the growing demand for educational support among families struggling with the rising cost of education and financial hardship.
The initiative is designed to assist vulnerable learners by helping them pay school fees and remain in school without interruption. County officials said the program specifically targets needy students and households that are unable to fully support the education of their children.
Speaking during the launch of the program, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said his administration remains committed to funding the bursary program every financial year despite ongoing budgetary and administrative challenges.
“My administration has continued to fund this bursary every financial year. This is despite ongoing engagements with the Controller of Budget, which has classified bursary support as a national government function. We have maintained the program as a welfare intervention to support vulnerable students and families,” the governor said.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi noted that the county government considers the bursary initiative an important welfare program aimed at protecting vulnerable students from dropping out of school due to lack of fees.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring more students stay in school and complete their education,” he added.
The launch of the KES 110 million bursary program marks another major investment by the county government in the education sector, with officials saying the initiative seeks to bridge the financial gap facing many learners in the region.
Out of the 46,320 applications received, only 21,000 students were selected to benefit from the program, highlighting the high demand for educational support among residents of the county. County authorities said the selected beneficiaries were identified based on need and vulnerability.
The county government said the bursary program will help ease the burden on families struggling to meet education costs and ensure students are able to continue with their studies without disruptions caused by unpaid fees.
Officials also emphasized that education remains one of the key priorities of the county administration, with the bursary program forming part of broader efforts to improve access to learning opportunities for young people across the county.
The governor reiterated that despite concerns raised by the Controller of Budget regarding county governments funding bursaries, the Wajir County administration would continue supporting vulnerable students through welfare-based interventions.
According to Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, the county government remains determined to ensure that financial hardship does not deny students the opportunity to access education and complete their studies.
The bursary launch was welcomed by residents and education stakeholders, who described the initiative as a timely intervention for struggling families across the county.
With thousands of students set to benefit from the funding, the program is expected to provide relief to vulnerable households and support efforts to keep learners in school.
The KES 110 million bursary initiative now stands as one of the county government’s major education support programs, reflecting its continued focus on improving access to education and supporting vulnerable communities across Wajir County.