Over 570 students in Kochia Ward receive bursary cheques

Kowili Education Recovery chairman Kennedy Ogindo hands over the cheque to students at Ligisa Secondary School in Kochia Ward,Rangwe constituency/Robert Omollo

More than 570 students in Kochia Ward, Rangwe constituency, have received bursary cheques to worth Sh3.186million to enable them to pursue their education.

The funds were solicited from members of Kowili clan and fundraisers from friends The disbursement of the cheques is going to salvage the needy learners from delay in joining grade 10.

The residents organised through a group called Kowili Education Recovery, distributed the money the students. The majority of the beneciaries are students who are joining grade ten. A few of them are in tertiary colleges and universities. The support comes at a time when many students are stranded at home due to lack of school fees in Homa Bay County.

Some parents and guardians line up to collect cheques for their children during distribution at Ligisa Secondary School in Rangwe constituency/Robert Omollo

"The monies have been distributed in form of cheques to enable our children to acquire education. We want to eradicate poverty through education ," Ogindo said.

Speaking during the distribution of cheques to the students' parents at Ligisa Secondary School, the officials argued that they came up with the initiative to reduce poverty in the area. Ogindo argued that paying the school fees for the students will enable the students to become reproductive people in future.

"Education is one of the ways of empowering children. We hope they will be productive people in future," he said.

Odhiambo said the initiative had done away with cases of students who fail to join grade nine. He said many students have currently complained of inability to join grade ten due to lack of school fees in county.

"Kowili clan doesn't want any child to fail to acquire education due to shortage of school fees. We want to them to work hard and achieve their ambitions ," Odhiambo said.

He expressed hope that the initiative will transform livelihoods in the area. The Secretary said they were committed to ensuring sustainability of the initiative.

"This is the only way to transform our society. I urge those who have not joined this initiative to join and help us in mobilising resources," Odhiambo said.

Parents led by Rose Atieno expressed confidence that the initiative had relieved them. "My child would have gone to school due to lacked fees if this initiative was not there. I thank the people who started it," said