Bursaries Standoff Ends: Governors Reach Agreement with Controller of Budget.
The Council of Governors has resolved a long-standing standoff with the national government over the disbursement of bursaries.
The dispute stemmed from Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o halting the practice, asserting it was a national government mandate.
After weeks of uncertainty, the two parties have agreed to allow counties with separate education funds to continue issuing bursaries, while those without such mechanisms must establish them or partner with the Ministry of Education.
This agreement was reached during the 26th Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) session chaired by Deputy President Kiki.
The meeting underscored that counties without formalized education funds must act swiftly to ensure students benefit from financial support. The session also emphasized collaboration between county governments and the Ministry of Education to streamline the process.
Further, a commitment was made to convene a formal meeting involving the National Treasury, the Council of Governors, the Ministry of Education, and the Controller of Budget.
This engagement aims to design a sustainable framework for bursary issuance. Officials emphasized that the framework would ensure clarity in the roles of both levels of government in supporting education.
Additional Issues Addressed
Beyond bursaries, the IBEC meeting tackled delays in disbursing national government allocations to counties.
Deputy President Kiki highlighted the need for swift action to address these delays, particularly the unresolved County Governments Additional Allocation Act for the fiscal year 2024/25.
County governments promised to prioritize pending bills, salaries, and pensions, aligning with fiscal responsibility goals.
Deputy President Kiki urged counties to work closely with the national government to improve service delivery and support economic growth at the grassroots.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring funds reach their intended beneficiaries promptly to uplift citizens’ living standards.
Speaking on the matter, he stated that cooperation between the two levels of government is essential to achieving shared development goals.
Governors Express Relief
Governors expressed optimism about the agreement, noting that it unlocks funding that had been stalled due to the standoff.
One governor remarked that counties can now resume supporting needy students, which had been hindered by the earlier circular from the Controller of Budget. Another emphasized the importance of finalizing the disbursement framework to prevent future interruptions.
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As counties resume bursary disbursement, all eyes are on the forthcoming meeting between key stakeholders to ensure a seamless and equitable process.
Both national and county governments reiterated their commitment to prioritizing education and enhancing fiscal efficiency to meet citizens’ needs effectively.
Bursaries Standoff Ends: Governors Reach Agreement with Controller of Budget.
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