Mandera launches Sh450m bursary to support learners, strengthen education

Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif during the launch of the FY 2025/2026 Mandera County Bursary Fund. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Parents from Mandera during the launch of the Sh450 million bursary fund /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Against the harsh backdrop of drought and deepening hardship in Northern Kenya, a wave of relief and renewed hope has swept through through Mandera county.

Learners from vulnerable and low-income families have a reason to smile following the launch of a Sh450 million bursary.

The Mandera County Bursary Fund was launch on Monday by Governor Mohamed Khalif who said the cash was an allocation in the 2025/2026 budget.

The money will support learners across the county and strengthen education outcomes.

Khalif said his administration had made a deliberate decision to prioritise education as a key pillar of development.

“Education remains the cornerstone of my administration’s development agenda. Today’s occasion reflects the steady progress we continue to make through the Elimu Kwa Wote initiative,” he said.

He spoke at Moi Girls Senior School where the kitty was launched.

The governor said Sh60 million will go towards supporting 27,073 vulnerable students in tertiary institutions across all the 30 wards in the county. The remaining funds will benefit 1,120 learners at Mandera Teachers Training College, 21,033 secondary school students in 68 schools, and 30  students who are pursuing their studies in Turkey.

He said the county government has disbursed a total of Sh1.702 billion in bursaries over the last four years, benefiting 71,899 students in secondary schools and another 51,129 students in universities and colleges.

“These deliberate investments demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that no child is denied education due to financial constraints,” Khalif said.

He noted that the bursary fund comes at a critical time when Mandera county is grappling with the effects of drought, which has severely strained household incomes and livelihoods.

“Many parents are struggling to meet basic needs, let alone pay school fees. By launching this bursary today, we are easing that burden and enabling families to keep their children in school without having to choose between education and survival,” he said.

Parents and students echoed the governor’s sentiments, describing the programme as a lifeline during a period of extreme hardship.

Mohamed Hussein, a parent of three secondary school students benefiting from the bursary, said the support had made a tangible difference in his family’s life.

“This programme has helped many poor parents. The drought has wiped out our livestock, which was our only source of income. Life has completely changed, and without this support, educating our children would have been impossible,” he said.

Students, too, spoke emotionally about the impact of the bursary. Hussein Abdi, a Form 4 student at Mandera High School, said he has benefited from the programme since Form 1 and believes he would have dropped out without it.

“My parents can't afford the fees so when I received my admission letter, I did not know what to do. I never imagined I would join secondary school. But through this bursary, I am now almost completing my high school studies,” he said.

Mumina Hussein, a Form 3 student at Moi Girls Senior School, said the bursary has restored her hope.

“This support has lifted a huge burden from my family. I can now focus on my studies without the fear of being sent home,” she said.