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Rows And Bias Claims in School Funds Sharing
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 17 July 2007 00:17
MPs and some constituency bursary committees have been accused of fixing amounts to be given out arbitrarily and regardless of the need.
Residents in Bobasi said yesterday committees were giving little money to needy students, contrary to what had been agreed upon.
Although the committee had resolved that each national school student was to be allocated Sh20,000 a year, the beneficiaries ended up getting only Sh15,000. Those in provincial and district schools were to get Sh6,000 each but received Sh5,000.
The MP, Mr Stephen Manoti, and the chairman of the committee, Mr Stephen Otundo, defended the decision, saying it was aimed at ensuring that all needy students benefited.
Mr Otundo said the changes were made after it was realised that the needy cases were more than originally thought.
Mr Manoti said: "We realised that if we went ahead with the initial numbers and allocations, many deserving cases, whose applications arrived late, would miss out, so we decided to reduce the figures."
But committee members cried 'foul', saying they were never consulted nor were they asked to verify those included later.
"There is no meeting that decided the allocations should be reduced. The chairman and the MP are yet to explain to us," said a committee member who asked not to be named.
Another sticking point has been the delay in releasing the cheques.
In South Mugirango, MP Omingo Magara has told his critics not to bother him about the funds. "I have a competent committee formed as per the laid down rules. Let those dissatisfied wait until the end of the year to audit how our funds were spent," he said.
But residents led by a parliamentary loser Manson Oyongo accused Mr Magara of filling the committees with his relatives and supporters.
"The MP should have involved all stakeholders as is happening in other areas to give him competent and trustworthy people to work with. Even if he tries to be fair, it will be very hard to convince the constituents," said Mr Oyongo, who is Kanu's deputy national organising secretary.
Said the MP: "My committee will be meeting soon to determine who gets what out of the Sh3 million we have been allocated this financial year."
He said all bright girls from poor families were benefiting by 10 per cent more than boys as an inducement to continue with their education.
In Bomachoge, MP Joel Onyancha was credited with having set up a fair system of disbursing the funds. The constituents said the MP had ensured that all deserving students got bursaries irrespective of their clans or parents' political inclinations.
Said Mr Onyancha: "As MPs, we are supposed to be bridges for development between the Government and our constituents but not to be barriers."
Parents in Nyamira complained of the delay in releasing the funds on time, while in North Mugirango, committee chairman Samuel Maraga said orphans were being required to produce their parents' death certificates and supporting letters from chiefs.
In West Mugirango, committee chairman Dickson Motanya and MP Henry Obwocha said they had sought the help of the Education ministry in identifying the beneficiaries.
