Kasipul students benefit from bursaries

More than 9,200 students from Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County have benefited from bursary funds aimed at supporting their education in institutions of higher learning.

The students, who mostly come from poor and vulnerable families, were issued with cheques to enable them to pay fees and continue with their studies.

Kasipul MP Boyd Were, together with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo and Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, said they are prioritising education as a key pillar for building the future of young people.

MP Were said the constituency has set aside Sh58.5 million to support the education of needy students in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions within and outside the region.

During the distribution, all day scholars in the constituency benefited. Day scholars received between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000 depending on their level of need.

Boarding school learners, as well as students in tertiary colleges and universities, received Sh10,000 each.

“The bursaries have been given without any discrimination. We ensured all learners in day schools across the constituency benefited,” Were said.

Speaking at Agoro Sare Comprehensive School in Oyugis town on Friday, the MP urged residents to support development programmes his office has rolled out in the constituency.

He said they are past the election period and need to focus on service delivery.

“A general election will come in 2027 and we'll cross the bridge when we reach there. I want us to major on development programs in front of us,” he said.

Governor Wanga said her administration has constructed more than 180 new classrooms under the Ondoa Kaunda initiative for Early Year Education.

She said the county also runs scholarship programmes such as Fins to Swim and Fundi Mangula for technical institutions.

“We prioritise education because that's where the future of our children lies. We should support elected leaders to deliver on their mandate,” Wanga said.

The leaders also called for more support for ODM, which they said is the most populous party in the Nyanza region.

Wanga, who is the national chairperson of ODM, said members should be ready to protect the party from saboteurs.

“ODM is the party which members will use to negotiate for State power in 2027 polls. We should not allow individuals interest to supersede the interest of the majority of party members,” Wanga said.

Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi also called on ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna to resign.

"Let him resign and remain an ODM party member,” Atandi said.

Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo urged the State to fast-track the production and issuance of Identity Cards (IDs) to enable youths to register as voters.

“We’re urging President William Ruto to continue engaging youths on development programs for their economic transformation. Let youths turn up and register as voters to participate in the 2027 general election,” Gogo said.