Governor Sakaja Defends Counties Bursary Allocations, Asks Ruto To Intervene Amid Controversial COB Directive

By Wasike Elvis 

Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has strongly defended counties' commitment to providing bursaries for needy students, saying that a directive by the Controller of Budget (COB) risks derailing education access for thousands of learners.

Speaking during a church service in Roysambu, Sakaja clarified that counties are not in competition with the national government but offer social support to needy learners, acting as complementary partners in improving the lives of Kenyans.

“It is not a function of education that we are undertaking, we are only offering social support to needy leaners" said governor Sakaja Johnson. 

"In Nairobi County, we issue bursaries to 119,000 leaners and 5,100 scholarships to leaners from less-privileged families. Please Mr. President, we seek your intervention in addressing this stalemate with the Controller of Budget (COB)" added Sakaja. 

Sakaja emphasized that the Ministry of Education's functions are paying teachers and setting the curriculumetc. He said that supporting the welfare of learners is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between all levels of government. 

The Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, directed that counties must cede the education function to the national government if they wish to continue providing bursary support. 

However, the directive risks leaving hundreds of thousands of students dependent on county bursaries in limbo.

The governor insisted that the support offered by counties is a lifeline for many families, ensuring access to education for children who might otherwise miss out. He maintains that bursaries are not about overstepping boundaries but about addressing an urgent need within communities.

President William Ruto was accompanied by Governor Sakaja Johnson, Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, a score of members of parliament, members of county assembly, among other leaders.