Makueni Speaker Douglas Mbilu issuance of County bursaries at Kathonzweni. Photo Andrew Mbuva 
By Andrew Mbuva
Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu has called on the national government to overhaul Kenya’s fragmented bursary system and consolidate all existing education support schemes into a single, transparent National Education Fund.
Speaking on Monday during the issuance of county bursaries at Kathonzweni, Speaker Mbilu emphasized that while the current support structures offer short-term relief to learners, they expose deeper systemic flaws that continue to undermine the constitutional right to education.
“We are still operating under a fragmented and flawed bursary system,” Mbilu noted. “We have the Presidential Bursary, Ministry of Education Bursary, County Government Bursary, NG-CDF Bursary, Women Rep Bursary, and others—each working in silos. This patchwork approach is inefficient, unequal, and vulnerable to mismanagement.”
He added that this disjointed framework directly violates Article 43(1)(f) of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to education.
The Speaker is advocating for the creation of a unified National Education Fund that would pool together all bursary allocations from different government levels and agencies into one streamlined system. According to him, this would enhance transparency, accountability, and ensure that no deserving child misses school due to financial constraints.
“Every child in Kenya deserves free, quality, and compulsory education,” he said. “We must move away from politically-driven disbursements and invest in a fair system that serves all Kenyans equally, regardless of their location or background.”
His remarks come amid growing public concern over the duplication of bursary programs and complaints of corruption, discrimination, and delays in disbursements in various counties.
The call by Speaker Mbilu is likely to ignite a national conversation on education funding reforms, as stakeholders continue to seek long-term solutions to support learners—especially in marginalized and low-income areas.
