Directors of private schools in Mombasa demand Sh40m bursary pledge from Nassir

The Bhadala Comprehensive and Secondary School in Mvita subcounty / BRIAN OTIENO

Parents of private secondary school students in Mombasa are allegedly harassing school principals and directors, demanding receipts for Sh5,000 bursaries that have yet to be disbursed by the county government.

Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) county chairperson Elisha Mwango said the funds were supposed to reach school accounts during the second term of last year.

“Our member schools have not received any bursaries. Parents should not harass principals or school owners as we await the release of funds,” he said.

KPSA secretary general Peter Otieno said 10,000 students have been affected, with many caught between home and school.

The delay has disrupted learning, potentially exposing students to early pregnancies, drug abuse and dropping out of school.

Parents expressed confusion and frustration over delays, citing inconsistent communication about who had received the funds.

Some parents reported being asked to collect receipts for money that was never deposited.

Mombasa County Education Executive Mbwarali Kame explained that after the Controller of Budget issued a memo halting bursary payments, public school allocations were prioritised.

He said private school disbursements will proceed once the supplementary budget, tabled on March 3, is approved.

Kame reassured parents that public secondary schools have received the remaining Sh2,500 through the county’s No Child Left Behind programme and highlighted a Sh12,000-per-student feeding programme that reduces fees.

He urged patience and suggested that parents consider enrolling children in public schools to benefit from the feeding programme.

The county has promised that once the bursaries reach private schools, receipts will be issued promptly, easing tensions between parents and school management.