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Thousands of students in Ruiru are set to receive much-needed financial relief through an Sh80 million bursary fund. This initiative aims to ease the burden on parents struggling to raise school fees amid challenging economic conditions in the country.
Ruiru Member of Parliament Simon King’ara announced the allocation of the Sh80 million bursary fund, acknowledging that the amount may still be insufficient given the high number of deserving and needy applicants. Ruiru, the most populous constituency in Kenya, boasts a population of over 700,000 residents.
While overseeing the funds application exercise in Ruiru on Wednesday, King’ara revealed that his office had communicated with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) board to increase the total allocation to Sh90 million to ensure all applicants receive the necessary support.
“We typically receive an overwhelming number of applicants, which compels us to write to the NG-CDF board to request additional funds for bursaries to assist all applicants. So far, we’ve received 40,000 applications, and that number may continue to rise as the deadline for submitting the applications has not yet elapsed,” said King’ara.
The MP explained that the large number of applicants from the eight wards—Mwihoko, Mwiki, Kiuu, Gitothua, Biashara, Gatung’ora, Kahawa Sukari, and Kahawa Wendani—often leaves him at an impasse when issuing bursaries.
King’ara highlighted that many parents in the peri-urban constituency are struggling to afford their children’s education due to difficult economic times, unemployment, and the rising cost of living. He emphasized that the NG-CDF fund has been crucial in improving access to education and achieving a 100 percent transition rate.
“A majority of our people live from hand to mouth and struggle to provide education for their children. Our NG-CDF allotment is insufficient and cannot effectively support the applicants. We request the government to reconsider increasing the current allocated amount taking into consideration the high population in Ruiru,” said King’ara.
The MP further noted that bursaries often consume funds intended for other developmental initiatives within the education sector in his constituency, compelling his office to explore alternative strategies for implementing projects, including partnerships with corporate entities. These partnerships have proven successful, resulting in the construction of over 50 classrooms in primary and secondary schools throughout the constituency.
Parents of children who have benefited from the funds called for an increase in the NG-CDF allocations to better support the growing student population in the region. Jacinta Mwangi, a local resident, lamented the rising cost of living, citing unemployment as the primary reason she struggles to afford school fees for her children.
“I do not have a stable job, and the current business environment is extremely competitive. I can barely raise enough money for food and shelter and I often depend on bursaries to ensure my children can continue their education,” she said.
Residents urged the government to address disparities in the distribution of national resources, particularly in densely populated regions like Ruiru. Applicants have been receiving between Sh3,000 and Sh7,000, amounts they consider inadequate compared to the more generous bursaries offered in other, less populated constituencies. They suggested the division of the constituency to optimize resource allocation or increased government funding for the NG-CDF.
