The Trans Nzoia County government and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have joined forces to streamline the Ukombozi Elimu bursary fund, aiming to bolster transparency and ensure equitable distribution of education aid to needy students.

The move follows a consultative meeting held in Kitale on Thursday between the County Department of Education and the MCAs, where leaders agreed to clean up beneficiary records and improve coordination in disbursing the funds.

Speaking during the forum, County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Education and Vocational Training, Janerose Nasimiyu Mutama, disclosed that a recent verification exercise had revealed several irregularities in bursary allocations.

“We found names of students who had graduated, dropped out, or moved to other institutions but were still appearing on the bursary lists,” said Ms Mutama. “This exercise helps not only in cleaning the list but ensures we trace students who may still need support.”

Ms Mutama assured the leaders that her department would follow up on students who had dropped out to assess their circumstances and explore ways to bring them back to school.

Chief Officer for Education, Kennedy Etiang, announced that each of the county’s 25 wards would receive KSh 1.45 million under the 2025 bursary allocation, underscoring the government’s commitment to equitable education funding.

“We are determined to ensure no student is left behind due to lack of fees,” Etiang said. “This collaboration with MCAs is a step forward in closing the gaps that have hindered smooth implementation in the past.”

MCAs welcomed the partnership, promising active involvement in the remaining stages of bursary disbursement. Kapomboi MCA and Education Committee Chair, Kefa Were, praised the joint approach, saying it would enhance accountability and fairness.

“This partnership ensures that both the executive and legislative branches speak with one voice,” Were said. “It’s our duty to make sure every deserving child gets support without bias or delay.”

The MCAs resolved to vet final lists of beneficiaries from each ward and accompany education officers during the delivery of bursary cheques to schools, a move expected to prevent misuse and ensure funds reach the intended students.

Concern was raised over previous delays, with the Education Committee noting that some students had nearly dropped out of school due to a two-year backlog in disbursements. The committee urged the Education Department to adhere strictly to set timelines and procedures to avoid future disruptions.

The MCAs lauded the proactive stance taken by CEC Mutama and Chief Officer Kennedy Etiang, terming it a model of responsive governance. They called for sustained interdepartmental coordination to uplift education standards across Trans Nzoia County.

The meeting was attended by the Trans Nzoia County Director administration Pius Munialo,Director Human resources Emmanuel Makhanu among other County officials.