Kwale County has announced the increase of the county scholarship programme from Kes400 million to Kes500 million in the 2023/2024 financial year to cater for the increasing number of needy students.

The county unveiled the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ bursaries programme to assist financially needy but bright students since the advent of devolution in 2013.

Speaking during the launch Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre at Chidunguni village in the Tsunza area of Kinango sub-county, Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani disclosed that the bursary will be paid directly into the accounts of secondary and tertiary institutions to ensure accountability.

 Achani said students in each of the 20 electoral wards will benefit from the disbursement channelled to schools, colleges, and universities.

 “We commit to continue investing in education through the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative that has improved education standards in Kwale County,” she said.

The governor added that the scheme serves as a lifeline to needy students to realise their educational dreams.

Further, she revealed that the county has sponsored more than 5,000 students in national schools, more than 3500 students in universities, and 55,000 students in other schools under the bursary programme since 2013.

Education bursaries and scholarships, according to Achani, would be a key component of her administration to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not distracted by school costs and instead concentrate on their academics.

The Governor claimed the scholarship programme will influence the county's growth and accelerate human capital development.

She urged those who benefited from the social intervention programme to pay attention in class and behave well so that the county's investment in their education would be justified.

“My administration, through the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative, reaffirms the commitment to ensure that no child from Kwale stays out of school due to lack of fees.”

The county boss also asked parents and guardians to be keen and closely monitor their children's progress in school, support them, and motivate them for better performances.