Kenya Newspapers Review For January 3: Needy Pupils Face Uncertain Future Amid Delayed Bursary Funds

On Wednesday, January 3, the national dailies widely reported on President William Ruto's latest onslaught against the Judiciary.

The papers also reported Uganda had taken Kenya to the East African Court of Justice after the country’s government-owned oil marketer was denied a licence to operate locally and handle fuel imports headed to Kampala.

1. Daily Nation

The publication reported that learners from poor families who depend on bursaries to pay fees risk being turned away when schools reopen on Monday following a delay to disburse National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) cash.

According to the paper, the National Treasury has not disbursed even a shilling to the 290 constituencies since last July, threatening the learning of thousands of needy students.

The fund is disbursed quarterly, implying that the constituencies should have received 75% of the monies by now.

Members of Parliament described the delay as an "extremely unfortunate state of affairs."

Some MPs said they had issued bursary forms but had no money to give the needy students.

Lawmakers last month staged a walkout from the House to protest the delay in releasing over KSh 53.3 billion NG-CDF cash.

The law sets aside 2.5% of the total revenue raised nationally to be shared among the constituencies.

Money allocated according to the new Constituency Development Act, the funds allocated for bursaries were increased from 35% to 40%.

Last month, President William Ruto and the National Treasury had assured MPs that the funds would be disbursed before schools reopen.

"I want to assure members that there are resources for our children to go to school. That is not negotiable. We will stop other items," said Ruto.

2. The Standard

A family of five narrowly escaped death after their car veered off the road and plunged into River Malewa along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.

During the midday incident, swift action by members of the public rescued the five, including three minors, from drowning.

The incident, which occurred near KCC village, caused a major traffic snarl-up along the busy highway as police, with the help of the public, moved in to recover the vehicle wreckage from the river.

A witness, Samuel Njue, said the car was heading to Nairobi from Nakuru when it veered off the highway and ended up in the swollen river.

He said that the driver mentioned he was seeking to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming trailer.

3. People Daily

The paper reported Kisii governor Simba Arati instructed wealthy individuals not to apply for the Ward Bursary Fund on behalf of their children, emphasising that such applications would not be considered.

He called upon chiefs, pastors, and members of community policing to assist in identifying orphans and children from impoverished families who can benefit from the fund.

Arati urged students in Forms Two, Three, and Four to obtain application forms from their respective ward representatives' offices, complete them, and submit them for review.

He specified that students entering Form One and those attending Vocational Training Centres would fill out forms at the end of the month, underscoring that only deserving learners would qualify for the bursary.

Arati stated that each ward would now receive KSh 5 million, up from the previous KSh3 million.

4. The Star

President William Ruto has said the problem with the country is not taxes but debts.

The head of state said the debts have caused problems for other countries in Africa, delaying their developments.

"Some countries in Africa have missed paying their debts, and they are now in problems. I will not allow our country to go that route where we will not be fully independent. The problem in Kenya is not taxes but debt," he said.

Ruto further said that unless the country manages its appetite for debt and borrowing, Kenya will be a slave to those who lend to the country.

He said that former president Mwai Kibaki's style of leadership was focused on paying taxes so that Kenyans could fully depend on themselves.

The president added that his administration is on course to improve the lives of Kenyans and the economy at large through development.

5. Taifa Leo

The Kiswahili daily reported that a woman was tragically killed after being struck by lightning while working on her farm in Tana River.

Hadija Kabi Mgawa reportedly lost her life while working on her farm in Rhoka Masabubu, Tana River County.

This tragic incident occurred in front of her husband, Maro Kofa Jarha, who, fortunately, was able to escape, although he suffered minor burns.